Francis' management blues

Francis has found management a tough business

As he leaves Birmingham for the second time, BBC Sport Online examines the career of Trevor Francis.

As a teenage striking prodigy, Trevor Francis was once the darling of the Birmingham City fans.

But his history with the club - which he joined as an apprentice - has reached a sad end after a rollercoaster five years as manager.

Francis enjoyed a successful playing career at St Andrews and elsewhere, scoring 12 goals in his half-century of international appearances for England.

And he scored the winning goal when Nottingham Forest won the 1979 European Cup final against Malmo.

  Trevor Francis
at Birmingham

1969: Joins Birmingham as an apprentice.

1979: Scores 118 goals in 280 League appearances before moving to Nott'm Forest for £1m.

1996: Returns to Birmingham as manager after spells at QPR and Sheff Wed.

1999: Loses in play-off semi-finals on penalties to Watford.

2000: Loses to Barnsley in play-off semi-final.

2001: Loses to Liverpool on penalties in League Cup final and to Preston on penalties in play-off semi-final.

The Plymouth-born player also had spells with Rangers and Sampdoria.

But as a manager, his career has been less fruitful.

His departure from St Andrews is the third time he has been given his cards by dissatisfied employers.

Francis cut his teeth at Queen's Park Rangers and then moved on to Sheffield Wednesday.

Repeated Wembley failures for Wednesday - including Coca-Cola Cup and FA Cup finals defeat to Arsenal in 1993 - were followed by a return "home" to Birmingham.

But their favourite son could not lead The Blues to the Promised Land that is the Premiership.

Francis scored 12 goals for his country

During his stint in charge, Birmingham have tasted play-off defeat on three successive occasions.

Semi-final reverses at the hands of Watford, Barnsley and Preston left Birmingham fans questioning Francis' ability as a manager.

Francis is known for his considered approach to the game, a calm exterior hiding a passion beneath the surface that rarely shows itself.

But he has had bust-ups with both players and his employers alike when his emotional pot has boiled over.

He refused Martin Allen permission to miss a game for QPR to attend the birth of his child.

Francis is facing another farewell as manager

But he later reacted angrily when his own family were verbally abused in the St Andrews' sponsors lounge by fans of rivals West Brom.

He offered his resignation to managing director Karren Brady on that occasion in 1998.

But it is three years later that he has finally become an ex-manager for the third time.

He shed tears when the Blues lost on penalties in the Worthington Cup final to Liverpool in Cardiff in February.

Three months later he threatened to take his players off the field before the play-off penalty shoot-out defeat to Preston because of an argument over which end the spot-kicks should be taken at.

A 6-0 Worthington Cup thrashing at Manchester City seemed to have sealed Francis's fate.

But somewhat ironically, the end, for the time being at least, came two days after a 3-1 win at Barnsley.