Keegan right-hand man Cox calls it a day

Manchester City assistant manager Arthur Cox has announced his retirement from football.

The 64-year-old has enjoyed a career spanning almost 50 years in the game, the last three of which were as City boss Kevin Keegan’s right-hand man.

Cox’s playing career was cut short after he broke a leg while playing for Coventry and he then moved into coaching with the midlands outfit.

He had coaching stints at Walsall, Halifax, Preston and Aston Villa and was assistant manager at Sunderland when they beat Leeds in the 1973 FA Cup final.

Cox was also an assistant at Galatasaray in Turkey and in 1976 he landed his first management job when he took charge of Chesterfield before a four-year spell as boss of Newcastle, where he signed Keegan as a player.

Cox managed Derby County for nine years between 1984 and 1993 before rejoining Keegan as his assistant manager at St James’ Park.

He then became director of football at Fulham when Keegan took over as manager at the club in 1997 and worked in a part-time coaching role for the national team when the City chief managed England.

“I am 65 this year and it is time to make way for someone else,” Cox told the club’s official website, www.mcfc.co.uk.

“Alongside many other people my contribution to football has been negligible but whatever I have done and whichever club I have been at I have always done everything in their best interest.

“I have made this decision in the best interest of Manchester City and Arthur Cox.”

Keegan paid tribute to the man he viewed as a role model and a “one-off” in the game.

“Arthur Cox has been a wonderful servant to football and great influence on my managerial career,” said Keegan.

“I owe him so much. He has been a true friend and confidante. I hope he enjoys his retirement to the full.

“If anybody deserves a break and a bit of time with his family it is Arthur. I understand his reasons. He is a one-off and we will stay friends for life.”