Robert Williamson (born 13 August 1961) is a Scottish football player and manager.

Williamson played as a striker for Clydebank, Rangers, West Bromwich Albion, Rotherham United and Kilmarnock. He then became manager of Kilmarnock, winning the 1996–97 Scottish Cup. Williamson moved to Hibernian in 2002, but had less success there and left in 2004 to manage Plymouth Argyle. He was sacked by Argyle after just over a year in charge. After a short stint with Chester City, Williamson became manager of the Uganda national football team. After a spell with Kenyan Premier League club Gor Mahia during which he won the league title, Williamson was appointed as the manager of Kenya national football team.

Playing career

As a player, Williamson was a striker. He began his career at Clydebank and scored 35 goals in 85 matches. Williamson earned a £100,000 move to Rangers during the 1983–84 season. Five months after signing for Rangers, Williamson broke his right leg while on a night out during an end of season tour of Australia. The injury was initially expected to keep him out of action for two or three months, After an injury-hit spell with Rangers, Williamson moved to West Bromwich Albion in 1986, in part-exchange for Jimmy Nicholl. Williamson also played in the Football League for Rotherham United. He returned to Scotland in 1990 to join Kilmarnock, which proved to be his last club as a player.

Managerial career

Kilmarnock

Williamson became the manager of Kilmarnock following the departure of Alex Totten. In his first season as manager, the club won the 1997 Scottish Cup final by beating Falkirk 1–0 at Ibrox. A win against St Johnstone in Williamson's first match in charge effectively removed the danger of relegation. but he did not endear himself to the Hibs fans. He lightheartedly joked about this relationship by referring to himself as a "weegie hun". Nonetheless, Hibs produced several excellent young players, including Scott Brown, Derek Riordan, Garry O'Connor, Kevin Thomson and Steven Whittaker. Williamson guided his young team to the 2004 Scottish League Cup final, Williamson's first Football League match in charge of Chester ended in a 0–0 draw with Chesterfield on 11 August 2007 and has established them as a promotion contender in the opening months of the season. After mid-season, Chester's form began to drop rapidly, winning only 1 out of 14 games since Boxing Day; Williamson was sacked on 2 March 2008.

Uganda

On 19 August 2008, Williamson was appointed by FUFA to be the coach of the Uganda national football team. Within days of being appointed, Williamson was given the ultimatum of winning his first two games against Niger and Benin to earn a longer contract. He succeeded in doing that, and their FIFA World Ranking steadily improved during his first two years in charge. Williamson led his Uganda team to the 2011 CECAFA Cup.

Uganda almost qualified for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, losing on a penalty shootout in their qualifying playoff tie against Zambia. Uganda had a bad start to 2014 World Cup qualifying, taking just two points from three games.

Gor Mahia

On 5 July 2013, it was announced that Williamson agreed terms with Kenyan Premier League side Gor Mahia to join the club as their new head coach. He replaced Croatian counterpart Zdravko Logarusić, who was sacked by the club 9 days earlier, on 25 June. Williamson led Gor Mahia to their first national league championship in 18 years. He took over the post after his last game with Gor Mahia in a league game against Sony Sugar on 24 August. He was replaced by ex-Mathare United manager Stanley Okumbi in February 2016.

Honours

Player

;Rotherham

  • Football League Fourth Division: 1988–89

;Kilmarnock

  • Scottish First Division promotion: 1992–93

Individual

  • PFA Team of the Year: 1989–90 Third Division

Manager

;Kilmarnock

  • Scottish Cup: 1996–97
  • Ayrshire Cup: 1998
  • Scottish League Cup runner-up: 2000–01

;Hibernian

  • Scottish League Cup runner-up: 2003–04

;Plymouth Argyle

  • Football League Second Division: 2003–04

;Uganda

  • CECAFA Cup: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012

;Gor Mahia

  • Kenyan Premier League: 2013
  • President's Cup runner-up: 2013
  • Kenyan Super Cup runner-up: 2013

Personal life

Since retiring, Williamson lives in Kenya with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter.

He was diagnosed with cancer of the nasal passages in the summer of 2017. As of July 2018 Williamson is in remission.

References

  • [http://tuko.co.ke/96380-see-much-government-owes-harambee-stars-manager-bobby-williamson.html]
  • Bobby Williamson Interview