Liam Manning discusses Andy King's Bristol City future and pays tribute to 'terrific' midfielder

Liam Manning admits there are no immediate plans for Andy King to take on a coaching role at Bristol City as the veteran midfielder made his final career appearance having announced his retirement 24 hours earlier.

King was introduced for the final stages of City’s 4-0 defeat at Stoke, bringing the curtain down on a 17-year career which has seen him make 477 professional club appearances, earn 50 caps for Wales, and lift the Premier League title with Leicester City, along with the Championship and League One crowns.

The 35-year-old has been working towards his post-playing career for some time and has been a quasi-coach during his final two seasons at Ashton Gate, with Manning’s predecessor Nigel Pearson once branding him a “future Bristol City manager”.

Naturally, as he hangs his boots up, suggestions have been made that he could join the coaching staff in BS3 in some capacity, whether at first-team or academy level, but Manning has indicated King is yet to decide what his next steps are in the game.

“Not as it stands, at the moment,” Manning said. “I think he’s going to have a break, have a holiday, he’s been working on his coaching badges and he’s going to see what comes up. At the minute there’s nothing there but you’d never rule him out returning to the club in the future.”

King was given a rousing applause when he entered the field by the 1,875 travelling fans, who had previously been chanting “we want Andy King”, with many then remaining after the final whistle to wish him well.

King had tears in his eyes and blew kisses to supporters in what had been a visibly emotional afternoon for him, with his close family also present at the Bet365 Stadium.

Although signed by Pearson in 2021, King has remained an influential figure under Manning who has utilised his experience and voice in the dressing room, as he’s a universally-respected figure among his teammates.

“Terrific,” Manning said, of King. “I have a good relationship with Kingy; firstly, his career has been phenomenal, when you look at what he’s achieved. I’d have loved the opportunity to work with him in his prime.

"Even now, seeing him in training up close, you see his feel for the ball, his quality, his awareness, his intelligence and the timing he runs. He’s got so many outstanding attributes which is why he’s achieved what he’s had.

“His minutes aren’t crazy high but if you look at the development of so many players and what he brings culturally, how I’ve used him, he’s been a massive voice in the changing room. He’s all-in and he spoke really well after the game then. He’s been terrific and, from me, I wish him all the best in his next steps in his career.

“We're disappointed we couldn’t send him out with a strong performance and a result but, at the same point, the fans and the group were incredible and hopefully he’ll remember the reception he got at the end of the game as it was quite a special moment for him.”

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