Player-Manager Profile

Paul BODIN

Full name
Paul John BODIN

Date of birth
September 13th, 1964 - Cardiff

First joined
March 4th, 1988 [transferred in]

First team debut
March 8th, 1988 vs. Luton Town (Away)

Last match played
May 4th, 1996 vs. Stockport County (Home)

First match managed
April 30th, 2011 vs. Oldham Athletic (Home)

Last match managed
May 7th, 2011 vs. Tranmere Rovers (Away)

Podcast
Positions

LWB

LB
International career
WALES
Full international
23 apps, 3 goals.
(16 apps whilst at STFC)

Under-21 international
1 apps.

Youth international

Bodin was originally signed from Newport County in March 1988 as cover for Phil King - and his first few appearances for the club were terrible - leading Town fanzine "Bring the Noise" to describe him as being "no better than an average Conference player".

When King left for Sheffield Wednesday in November the following year, Bodin became the club's first choice left back, and his performances began to improve - so much so that he became a regular choice for his country. He was almost ever-present in 1989/1990, a season which resulted in his first appearance for Swindon at Wembley, in the ill-fated Play-Off Final win over Sunderland.

After the illegal payments scandal, Swindon were forced to sell players, and shortly after Ossie Ardiles left the club, Bodin also left - Crystal Palace paying over £½ million for his services. Bodin failed to settle in London, and after Ardiles took him to Newcastle for a short loan spell, he returned to the County Ground just ten months after he had left - Glenn Hoddle paying half the fee that Palace had.

Hoddle played Bodin as a more attack-minded wing back, making better use of Bodin's crossing ability. He also installed Bodin as the club's penalty taker - moves which were to come to fruition the following season, when he scored a total of twelve goals from his new position. Five of these goals came from the penalty spot - the last of which was possibly the most pressurised kick ever to be taken by a Swindon player - the penalty which gave Swindon the lead in the dying minutes of the 1993 Play-Off Final win over Leicester at Wembley.

Bodin performed well again in the Premier League, scoring seven league goals, including penalty strikes against Manchester United and Arsenal. By now, he was a regular choice at international level - missing a crucial penalty for Wales in their World Cup qualifier with Romania - had he scored, Wales would have qualified.

He remained as the Town's first choice left back for two more seasons, despite two successive relegations and the arrival of Jason Drysdale - and he helped the club to the Second Division championship in 1996, before leaving the club at the end of that season.

Managerial Record


Competition Stage P W D L Penalties F A Win % SR%
Won Lost
All matches   2 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 50.00% 50.00%
English Football League   2 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 50.00% 50.00%

Playing Record


Senior

Season LEAGUE POST-SEASON FA CUP EFL CUP EUROPE OTHER TOTAL
AppsGlsAppsGlsAppsGlsAppsGlsAppsGlsAppsGls Apps Gls
1995/96 32 (+1) 2 - - 4 1 4 - - - 1 - 41 (+1) 3
1994/95 25 6 - - 1 - 6 - 2 - - - 34 6
1993/94 28 (+4) 7 - - 2 - 3 - - - - - 33 (+4) 7
1992/93 34 (+1) 11 3 1 1 - 1 - 2 - - - 41 (+1) 12
1991/92 21 2 - - 2 - - - - - - - 23 2
1990/91 31 2 - - 3 - 4 - - - 1 - 39 2
1989/90 38 (+3) 5 3 - 1 - 8 - - - 3 1 53 (+3) 6
1988/89 15 (+1) 1 - - 2 - - - - - - - 17 (+1) 1
1987/88 3 (+2) 1 - - - - - - - - 1 - 4 (+2) 1
TOTAL 227 (+12) 37 6 1 16 1 26 - 4 - 6 1 285 (+12) 40

Reserve and Youth Team Appearances

Note that appearance data for reserve and youth teams may not be complete. Expand for more information.

Season RES. LGE TOTAL
AppsGls Apps Gls
1995/96 6 1 6 1
1994/95 - - - -
1993/94 7 1 7 1
1992/93 2 1 2 1
1991/92 - - - -
1990/91 - - - -
1989/90 6 4 6 4
1988/89 19 7 19 7
1987/88 10 4 10 4
TOTAL 50 18 50 18

Career details


Club Details
Chelsea

Chelsea
January 1980 (schoolboy)
Newport County

Newport County
January 1982 
Cardiff City

Cardiff City
August 1982 
Merthyr Tydfil

Merthyr Tydfil
1985 
Bath City

Bath City
July 1985 
Newport County

Newport County
January 1988 (transferred in , £15,000 ); transferred out (March 4th, 1988)
Swindon Town

Swindon
March 4th, 1988 (transferred in , £25,000 ); transferred out (March 8th, 1991)
Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace
March 8th, 1991 (transferred in , £550,000 ); transferred out (January 9th, 1992)
Newcastle United

Newcastle United
December 5th, 1991 (loan)
Swindon Town

Swindon
January 9th, 1992 (transferred in , £225,000 ); transferred out (July 30th, 1996)
Reading

Reading
July 30th, 1996 (transferred in, free transfer)
Wycombe Wanderers

Wycombe Wanderers
September 18th, 1997 (loan)
Bath City

Bath City
April 1998 (appointed player-manager); resigned (May 8th, 2001)
Devizes Town

Devizes Town
August 2002 
Swindon Supermarine

Supermarine
October 2002 (player-coach)
Swindon Town

Swindon
January 2008 (youth coach)
April 28th, 2011 (caretaker manager)
May 20th, 2011 (youth coach)
Southampton

Southampton
 (academy coach)
Port Vale

Port Vale
May 2015 (assistant manager)
Wales

Wales
August 2017 (under-19 manager)
August 2019 (appointed under-21 manager); by mutual consent (rptd July 21st, 2022)