Russell Charles Osman (born 14 February 1959) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre back in the Football League for Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Southampton, Bristol City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Cardiff City. Osman played senior international football for England, for whom he received eleven caps. He is now a football pundit in the Indian Super League.
Playing career Osman was born in Repton, Derbyshire, the son of Rex Osman who played a handful of games for Derby County in the early 1950s. Osman played nearly 400 games for Ipswich Town, winning the 1980–81 UEFA Cup. Osman also contributed to Ipswich's victorious 1977–78 FA Cup campaign, making four appearances during the run. However he wasn't part of the squad for the final itself. Osman also represented his country 11 times. His first England cap came against Australia in a friendly on 31 May 1980, his last on 21 September 1983 in England's 1–0 Euro 84 qualifying match defeat to Denmark.
Managerial career Later in his playing career he was player-manager of Bristol City, famously guiding the club to a 1-0 victory against Liverpool at Anfield in an F.A. Cup replay in 1994, and had a brief spell as caretaker manager of Plymouth ArgyleArgyle Managers Greens on Screen. Retrieved 5 February 2010. before later managing Cardiff City. He had a brief role as joint caretaker manager of Bristol Rovers in 2004. In November 2007, he was appointed as assistant manager to Paul Tisdale at Exeter City. In February 2011 he was appointed coach of the Ipswich Town Under 18s.Osman Ipswich U1nder 18s coach He left the role in August 2013.Osman leaves Ipswich In July 2015 Osman joined Newport County as assistant manager to Terry Butcher. Butcher, Osman and Steve Marsalla were sacked on 1 October 2015 with Newport bottom of League Two after gaining just 5 points from the first 10 matches of the 2015–16 season.Newport County part company with manager Terry Butcher
Escape to Victory He played Doug Clure, one of the prisoner-of-war footballers, in the 1981 film Escape to Victory, which also included American actor Sylvester Stallone, British actor Michael Caine, Swedish actor Max von Sydow, and football stars Pelé, Ossie Ardiles, and Kazimierz Deyna. The film was based on a game between an Allied team and a Nazi German team during the Second World War.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsIpswich Town1977–78First Division280402040—3801978–79First Division392501060105221979–80First Division422402040—5221980–81First Division4217052120—6631981–82First Division392307020—5121982–83First Division384312020—4551983–84First Division3732030——4231984–85First Division2934061——394Total294173212833001038521Leicester City1985–86First Division4001010——4201986–87First Division3130030——3431987–88Second Division3751040—20445Total1088208000201208Southampton1988–89First Division3601060—204501989–90First Division3553070——4551990–91First Division2013050—102911991–92First Division500000——50Total9667018000301246Bristol City1991–92Second Division3124000——3521992–93First Division340101020—3801993–94First Division51002010—81Total70350303000813Brighton & Hove Albion1995–96Second Division1202000—30170Cardiff City1995–96Third Division1500000——150Career total595344815733309074238
Honours Ipswich Town UEFA Cup: 1981
Individual Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year: 1980–81 Ipswich Town Hall of Fame: Inducted 2011
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