Frank Yallop might not be recognized on the street where he goes, despite being a very special man in football or soccer if you like. Born in England raised in Canada and moving back to England to start a career with Ipswich Town.
He was one of those players coming through the youth ranks during the day of Sir Bobby Robson, and when Robson moved on and became England manager, Frank Yallop made his big breakthrough under the new manager Bobby Ferguson.
Yallop signed professional terms as a 19 year old and went on to play 389 league games from 1983 to 1996 with Ipswich Town. Born in Watford, England, but a Canadian citizen and playing for his country and also later managing the national team.
To represent one club over thirteen seasons is amazing and also being a bit overlooked and forgotten in the broader picture as he just played internationally for a minor soccer nation and also being one that never really hit the headlines.
Frank Yallop was voted player of the season at Ipswich Town once, wining the tropy in the 1987-88 season. He is also a “2nd tier” League winner while at Portman Road, end top and getting promoted afther the 1991/92 season.
In the first year of the Premier League Frank Yallop scored one of his few goal for Ipswich Town in the 2-1 win at Portman Road v. Manchester United and were hoping to challenge for the title as they were third at the time, but a slide towards the end did see Sir Alex as the winner of the first Premier League and Frank Yallop.
After his years with Ipswich Town he returned to North America in 1996, signing for Tampa Bay Mutiny. Yallop enjoyed two years with the MLS club before he took the step from player to becoming a coach having different roles around in a number of clubs before his first head coach opportunity came along, joining San Jose Earthquakes.
After a couple of seasons with San Jose he was appointed head coach of Canada and from that job getting the chance to be in charge of Los Angeles Galaxy and strangely enough being the man introducing David Beckham in US soccer.
His stint in charge of Galaxy was a short affair returning to San Jose Earthquakes were he stayed from 2008 to 2013 in his 2nd period. He has since he left San Jose had short stays with Chicago Fire, Phoenix Rising, Fresno FC and at present in charge of 2nd tier club Las Vegas Lights.
Frank Yallop could have been the right man for “the hot seat” at Portman Road, strangely enough he has never been in charge of the club he played for over so many seasons and with the current situation at lower league level for Ipswich Town he might be offered the job some day.
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