By Mark Heys
September 25 2005

Manchester United's successful reserve team boss Ricky Sbragia could be about to quit Old Trafford as speculation is rife that he will accept a first-team coaching role with Bolton Wanderers. Scottish-born Sbragia lead the United second string to the FA Premier Reserve league title last season and in his three years with the Reds he has helped bring the likes of Darren Fletcher, Kieran Richardson and Phil Bardsley into the first team reckoning.

The 49-year old was a bruising defender in his playing days, serving the likes of Birmingham City, Walsall, Blackpool and York City before injury forced his premature retirement from the game in 1987.

Sbragia began his coaching career with former club York in the early 1990's and later moved on to Sunderland in 1994 where he became a key member of Peter Reid's backroom team for a number of years by helping the careers of Thomas Butler, Michael Proctor, Kevin Kyle and George McCartney amongst others.

In 2002 Sir Alex Ferguson brought him to Old Trafford as a replacement for reserve coach Mike Phelan who had made the step up to the First Team following Carlos Quieiroz departure to Real Madrid.

RICKY SBRAGIA

BORN: 26th May 1956, Lennoxtown, Scotland
HEIGHT: 6.0
WEIGHT: 11.0

PLAYING CAREER:

1974-1978 Birmingham City (15 appearances, 1 goal)
1975 Morton (loan) (4 appearances, 0 goals)
1978-1980 Walsall (77 appearances, 4 goals)
1980-1982 Blackpool (26 appearances, 1 goal)
1982-1987 York City (149 appearances, 7 goals)
1985 Darlington (loan) (6 appearances, 0 goals)

COACHING CAREER:

1990-1994 York City
1994-2002 Sunderland
2002-present Manchester United