Andy Smith (footballer, born 1980)

Andrew William Smith (born 25 September 1980) is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and coach who is now the manager of Finnish Veikkausliiga club Haka. He had a 16-year career playing professional and semi-professional football in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Belgium, and Portugal. He also won 18 caps for Northern Ireland between 2003 and 2005 and one cap for the Northern Ireland B team in 2003.

An energetic forward, he began his career at Ballyclare Comrades before signing with Sheffield United in September 1999. He played on loan at Bury and Glenavon, before signing with Glentoran in February 2002. He spent just over two years with the club, and his prolific scoring form helped the "Glens" to win the Irish League (2002–03), County Antrim Shield (2003), Irish League Cup (2003), and Irish Cup (2004). He was sold to Preston North End for £130,000 in July 2004 but failed to score a goal in the English Football League. He struggled with injuries and had brief loan spells at Stockport County, Motherwell, and Cheltenham Town. He joined Bristol City in February 2007. He helped the "Robins" to win promotion out of League One in 2006–07 despite again failing to score a goal. He went back into Northern Ireland semi-professional football with Portadown in October 2007 but did not play in the 2008–09 season due to a contract dispute. He joined Ballymena United in July 2009 and stayed with the club for two seasons. He later had brief stays at Union Royale Namur (Belgium), Carrick Rangers, Crusaders, and Moura (Portugal).

He began his coaching career as Bruno Ribeiro's assistant at Moura and later followed him to Pinhalnovense, Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria), Académico de Viseu, and Port Vale. He managed Slovakian club Dubnica for a brief spell in 2022 and was appointed manager of Finnish club Haka in October 2023.

Early career
Smith began his career in the Irish League First Division with Ballyclare Comrades, before he was signed by English First Division side Sheffield United in September 1999. He had a two-month loan spell at Second Division club Bury in December 2000. In total, he played ten games for the "Blades" in the 2000–01 campaign and also featured three times for the "Shakers". He struggled with ankle and shoulder injuries at Bramall Lane. He was loaned out to Glenavon in November 2001, and scored three goals in 13 Irish League Premier Division games.

Glentoran
Smith returned to Northern Ireland on a permanent basis when he signed with Glentoran in February 2002, and scored two goals in ten league games in the remainder of the 2001–02 campaign. He had a prolific 2002–03 season to help Glentoran win a treble (the league title, County Antrim Shield, and Irish League Cup), scoring 35 goals in all competitions, and was described as a "fans favourite" due to his "peroxide blonde" hair and "cheeky goal celebrations". His goal tally included a 12-minute hat-trick in a 6–1 win over Institute on New Year's Eve. He played in the League Cup final, a 2–0 win over Linfield at Windsor Park. He scored a goal as Glentoran lifted the County Antrim Shield with a 3–0 victory over Ballymena United. The "Glens" could have won a quadruple, but lost 1–0 Coleraine in the final of the Irish Cup after a shot from Jody Tolan deflected off Smith into the net. He was sidelined from The Oval for a month with a knee injury, but managed to score seven goals in 23 league games in the 2003–04 campaign. He helped Glentoran to win the Irish Cup in his final appearance for the club, as they beat Coleraine 1–0 to avenge their defeat the previous year.

Return to England
Smith returned to English professional football after he was signed by manager Craig Brown at Championship club Preston North End for an undisclosed fee (later reported to be £130,000 ) in July 2004; his international teammate David Healy recommended the club to Smith. He had been due to sign for Milton Keynes Dons when Preston hijacked the deal with a late bid to take him to Deepdale. He featured in 17 games for the "Lambs" in the 2004–05 season, without scoring a goal. He was loaned out to League One club Stockport County in November 2004, who were managed by his former Northern Ireland boss Sammy McIlroy; Preston manager Billy Davies said he hoped the move would boost Smith's confidence levels. However, he returned to Preston after playing just twice at Edgeley Park. He joined Scottish Premier League side Motherwell on loan in August 2005 and was described by manager Terry Butcher as "an enthusiastic type of player who always works his socks off". He played nine matches for the "Steelmen" during the 2005–06 without scoring a goal at Fir Park.

He joined Cheltenham Town on loan in November 2006, which saw Cheltenham fans pay his wages as the club were in financial difficulties. Manager John Ward said he was "really grateful to all the supporters who have come forward with the funds to make it happen". However, Smith made just three starts for the "Robins" before returning to Preston after three weeks after he refused to sit on the bench for an FA Cup first round replay at Scunthorpe United. His Preston contract was cancelled by mutual consent in January 2007. Smith joined Gary Johnson's Bristol City on a two-month contract on 23 February 2007. He played 11 games in the remainder of the 2006–07 season, and left Ashton Gate after the "Robins" secured promotion into the Championship.

Later career
Despite failing to score a single goal in competitive football during his three years in England and Scotland, Smith remained an in demand player in Northern Ireland due to his record in the Irish leagues and his international caps. He signed for Portadown in October 2007 after protracted negotiations due to his "excessive wage demands". He showed "excellent scoring form" before he left the club two months later when his short-term contract ended. He rejoined Portadown in February 2008, signing a contract running until the end of the 2009–10 season. However, he refused to report for training after Portadown were relegated at the end of the 2008–09 season, and Portadown manager Ronnie McFall refused to release him from his contract. Smith had a trial at League Two side Grimsby Town in July 2009.

In July 2009, he signed a two-year contract with Ballymena United. He was handed a six-match suspension after headbutting Newry City's Darren King on 3 December, which manager Roy Walker said was a "draconian punishment" for breaking an "outdated law" as "there was no contact between the players". He scored six goals in 27 league games during the 2009–10 season and hit one goal in 19 league games throughout the 2010–11 campaign. He had his contract cancelled by mutual consent in April 2011, with manager Roy Walker claiming that Smith was planning to head to Vietnam.

In August 2011, Smith signed for Belgian Third Division side Union Royale Namur. He left the club in February 2012. On 30 August 2012, he signed with Michael Hughes's Carrick Rangers but left the club the following day after accepting further trials with clubs in France and Belgium. After joining former club Glentoran on trial in July 2013 to keep his fitness up, he signed for Crusaders on 2 January 2014 until the end of the 2013–14 season. He was an unused substitute in the League Cup final defeat to Cliftonville. He scored one goal for Crusaders, in a 2–1 win over Crumlin Star in the Irish Cup, before being released at the end of the season.

International career
Smith won a cap for the Northern Ireland B team in a game against Scotland Future in May 2003. He played well in the game, and as a result was called up to the full Northern Ireland squad by manager Sammy McIlroy to play against Italy on 3 June 2003. He continued to play in the Northern Ireland team under new manager Lawrie Sanchez. His final international appearance came in a 4–1 friendly defeat to Germany on 5 June 2005.

Style of play
Smith was an energetic forward with great stamina and fitness.

Coaching career
Smith began his coaching career as an assistant to former Sheffield United teammate Bruno Ribeiro, and also played seven Campeonato Nacional de Seniores games whilst helping Ribeiro coach Moura AC in the 2014–15 season. He later joined Ribeiro at Pinhalnovense and Vitória Setúbal. He followed Ribeiro to Bulgarian Parva Liga side Ludogorets Razgrad in June 2015. Smith left the club when Ribeiro was sacked six weeks later. Smith later recalled how "mafia types with firework" tried to attack the pair of them in Bulgaria. He followed Ribeiro back to Portugal to assist him at Académico de Viseu in February 2016, before following him to Port Vale five months later. He departed Vale Park after Ribeiro resigned in December 2016.

Dubnica
Smith signed a two-year contract to manage Slovakian 2. Liga club Dubnica in summer 2022. He took charge for eight games – three wins, one draw and four losses – before leaving the club on 6 September.

Haka
On 31 October 2023, he was appointed the new head coach of Finnish Veikkausliiga club Haka, on a two-year deal with an option to extend.

Personal life
Smith has a distinctive appearance, and in October 2016 was described by The Times journalist Gregor Robertson as "wild-eyed, heavily tattooed, flame-haired and bearded".

Honours
Glentoran
 * Irish League: 2002–03
 * County Antrim Shield: 2003
 * Irish League Cup: 2003
 * Irish Cup: 2004; runner-up: 2003

Bristol City
 * League One second-place promotion: 2006–07

Crusaders
 * Irish League Cup runner-up: 2014