Coaching & Managerial Career
When he retired from playing he stayed at Colchester United to become assistant manager in 2000. In July 2006, Geraint took charge of the U's, replacing out going manager Phil Parkinson. He had previously managed Colchester on a four-week caretaker basis during the 2002–03 season prior to Parkinson's appointment.
Colchester were among most people's favourites to be relegated from the Football League Championship in the 2006–07 season, as they had the smallest ground in the division – it was also their first season in the second tier of the English league throughout their history. Despite a slow start, they entered a run of consistent good form and were in the challenge for a play-off place right up until the final game of the season. They eventually finished 10th above more favoured sides such as Crystal Palace, Leicester City and most notably the relegated Leeds United.
However, following the club's success many of their most notable players were snapped up elsewhere and, following a summer in the which the club needed to rebuild their playing staff, they were unable to sustain their success and were relegated once more the following season, finishing bottom.
With the club's expectations at an all-time high following the two year stint in the higher division, a poor start to the 2008–09 season, (where the club fell to twenty-third League One) saw Geraint leave his post on 22 September 2008 after discussions with the Chairman.
Williams was appointed manager of Leyton Orient in February 2009. He started very well and managed to help Orient to 7 wins from his first 9 games in charge, including wins over teams such as Crewe Alexandra, Brighton & Hove Albion and Carlisle United. He led the relegation-threatened O's to an eventual mid-table finish of 14th place, retaining their League One status with several games to spare. After a poor run of form in March, Williams left Orient only hours after the side's 3–1 home defeat to Hartlepool United.
In May 2012 Brian Flynn vacated his position as manager of the Wales national under-21 football team at the end of his contract and in July 2012 Geraint Williams was appointed as Flynn's successor
Read more about this topic: Geraint Williams
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“Each of the professions means a prejudice. The necessity for a career forces every one to take sides. We live in the age of the overworked, and the under-educated; the age in which people are so industrious that they become absolutely stupid.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)