# Carlton Palmer
**Carlton Palmer** (Carlton Lloyd Palmer, born 1965 in Rowley Regis, England) is an English former footballer and manager who played as a midfielder, most prominently for Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United, and won 18 caps for England between 1992 and 1993.[1](https://www.11v11.com/players/carlton-palmer-128/) • [2](https://www.englandstats.com/player.php?pid=1041) Standing 1.88 m tall and weighing 84 kg, he was known for high-energy, aggressive midfield play and hard running, qualities that coexisted with persistent criticism of his touch and passing.[1](https://www.11v11.com/players/carlton-palmer-128/) • [3](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/premier-league/matt-le-tissier-and-carlton-palmer-at-war-over-england-careers-a6964941.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965, Rowley Regis, England[1](https://www.11v11.com/players/carlton-palmer-128/) |
| Position | Midfielder (also listed as sweeper, defensive midfielder, and center back for England)[1](https://www.11v11.com/players/carlton-palmer-128/) • [2](https://www.englandstats.com/player.php?pid=1041) |
| England career | 18 caps, 1 goal, 1992–1993; debut v CIS on 29 April 1992, last cap v Netherlands on 13 October 1993[2](https://www.englandstats.com/player.php?pid=1041) |
| Major transfer | Sheffield Wednesday to Leeds United, June 1994, £2.6 million, on a four-year deal[4](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-palmer-signs-for-leeds-1410922.html) |
| Clubs | West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Coventry City, Stockport County, Mansfield Town[1](https://www.11v11.com/players/carlton-palmer-128/) |
| Management | Player-manager of Stockport County (2001–03), manager of Mansfield Town (2004–05) and Grantham Town (2021); 133 games, 35 wins, 32 draws, 66 losses[5](https://www.managerstats.co.uk/managers/carlton-palmer/) • [6](https://www.transfermarkt.us/carlton-palmer/profil/trainer/29149) |
| FA Legacy Number | 1041[2](https://www.englandstats.com/player.php?pid=1041) |
## Club career
**Early years.** Palmer joined West Bromwich Albion on 21 December 1984 and moved to Sheffield Wednesday on 23 February 1989 for £750,000, having made 139 league appearances for West Brom with 5 goals.[7](https://www.leeds-fans.org.uk/leeds/players/481.html) At Hillsborough he became an established Premier League midfielder, making 33 league appearances in 1992–93 and 37 in 1993–94, and he was part of the Wednesday side that reached both the [FA Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-cup) final and the League Cup final in 1993, losing to Arsenal in each.[1](https://www.11v11.com/players/carlton-palmer-128/)
**Leeds United.** In June 1994 Palmer signed for Leeds United from Sheffield Wednesday in a £2.6 million move, agreeing a four-year deal with manager [Howard Wilkinson](https://www.edgepedia.org/howard-wilkinson), who asked him to play in defense.[4](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-palmer-signs-for-leeds-1410922.html) The move followed a disagreement with the Hillsborough manager [Trevor Francis](https://www.edgepedia.org/trevor-francis) over his role in the Wednesday side.[4](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-palmer-signs-for-leeds-1410922.html) The transfer ranked among the largest in British football that year; a 1994 program feature listed it tenth in its top 12 British transfers at £2.8 million, while the transfer records of both clubs record £2.6 million.[8](https://cdn.hattersheritage.co.uk/1994-95%2BSeason%2BDONE%2FMatches%2FM4151%2BSouthampton%2Bv%2BLuton%2BTown%2FProgramme%2FProgramme.pdf) • [4](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-palmer-signs-for-leeds-1410922.html) His arrival was not popular with Leeds supporters, who had seen [David Batty](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-batty) sold to Blackburn; bought notionally as a center back, Palmer was soon used in Batty's midfield position.[7](https://www.leeds-fans.org.uk/leeds/players/481.html) In March 1996, after Leeds lost the Coca-Cola Cup final to Aston Villa, his public criticism of team-mates' effort, which he called "nothing short of disgraceful", deepened a crisis at the club.[9](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/palmer-outburst-fuels-leeds-crisis-1344231.html) He left for Southampton on 26 September 1997 after 130 appearances and 7 goals for Leeds.[7](https://www.leeds-fans.org.uk/leeds/players/481.html)
**Later playing career.** Palmer spent just over a season at [Southampton](https://www.edgepedia.org/southampton) before David Jones sanctioned a transfer to Nottingham Forest in January 1999, with Southampton making a small profit on the £1.1 million they had paid.[10](https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/carlton-palmer/) He joined Coventry City in September 1999. A steady start to the 2000–01 season gave way to a fall from favor after a red card against Tottenham Hotspur, and he spent loan spells at Watford under his former England manager [Graham Taylor](https://www.edgepedia.org/graham-taylor) and at Sheffield Wednesday before joining Stockport County as player-manager in early November 2001.[1](https://www.11v11.com/players/carlton-palmer-128/) He retired as a player on 1 October 2004, his last club having been Dublin City.[6](https://www.transfermarkt.us/carlton-palmer/profil/trainer/29149)
## England career
Palmer's England career lasted 1 year and 167 days, from his debut against the CIS in a friendly on 29 April 1992, aged 26 years and 146 days, to his last cap against the Netherlands in a World Cup qualifier on 13 October 1993.[2](https://www.englandstats.com/player.php?pid=1041) All 18 caps came while he was a Sheffield Wednesday player. He started 14 of his 18 games, came on as a substitute 4 times, and scored once, against [San Marino](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-marino) in a World Cup qualifier on 17 February 1993.[2](https://www.englandstats.com/player.php?pid=1041) His international record comprised 5 friendly caps, 8 World Cup qualifier caps with 1 goal, 3 caps at the European Championship finals, and 2 in the United States Cup.[2](https://www.englandstats.com/player.php?pid=1041) He played in Euro 1992 and was a key part of the squad during the failed qualification campaign for the 1994 World Cup.[3](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/premier-league/matt-le-tissier-and-carlton-palmer-at-war-over-england-careers-a6964941.html) The arrival of [Terry Venables](https://www.edgepedia.org/terry-venables) as manager and the emergence of [Paul Ince](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-ince) ended his international career.[11](https://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/england/carlton-palmer-5454/english-caps-1992-1993_a12042/)
His selection divided opinion. A Leeds Student profile from November 1994 recalled that, at the low point of England's fortunes, the magazine *90 Minutes* had put an unflattering picture of him on its cover under the headline "Why does everyone hate Carlton Palmer?", while crediting him with determination and competitiveness combined with a competence not always credited to him.[12](https://digital.library.leeds.ac.uk/13613/1/LUA-PUB-002-LS-585_000.pdf) The debate resurfaced publicly in 2016, when [Matt Le Tissier](https://www.edgepedia.org/matt-le-tissier), questioned Palmer's 18 caps in a book and called him a bully; Palmer rejected the characterization, and Le Tissier responded that he respected Palmer for getting every ounce out of his career with the ability he had.[3](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/premier-league/matt-le-tissier-and-carlton-palmer-at-war-over-england-careers-a6964941.html)
## Playing style
As a midfielder Palmer was quick, fit, and strong in the air and in the tackle, qualities that had to combine to mask his deficiencies in skill and finesse.[12](https://digital.library.leeds.ac.uk/13613/1/LUA-PUB-002-LS-585_000.pdf) Contemporary description called him a "telescopic-legged" midfielder whose high energy and work rate carried him to 18 England caps despite criticism of his ability on the ball.[10](https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/carlton-palmer/) He was described as a larger-than-life figure and a major influence in the dressing room, whose aggressive midfield play made him an ideal character for any team needing a boost.[1](https://www.11v11.com/players/carlton-palmer-128/)
## Management
Palmer's first managerial post was at Stockport County, where he was appointed player-manager in early November 2001 and left on 18 September 2003, taking the club for 87 matches at 1.01 points per match by Transfermarkt's count.[1](https://www.11v11.com/players/carlton-palmer-128/) • [6](https://www.transfermarkt.us/carlton-palmer/profil/trainer/29149) His second spell came at Mansfield Town, from 11 November 2004 to 18 September 2005, 38 matches at 1.21 points per match.[5](https://www.managerstats.co.uk/managers/carlton-palmer/) • [6](https://www.transfermarkt.us/carlton-palmer/profil/trainer/29149) Across his two league management spells he took charge of 133 games, winning 35, drawing 32, and losing 66, with no honors won.[5](https://www.managerstats.co.uk/managers/carlton-palmer/)
**Later posts.** After a series of short posts within the game, he set up his own Football Academy in 2012.[10](https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/carlton-palmer/) In April 2021 Grantham Town appointed him first-team manager; he left the position on 9 November 2021, which Transfermarkt records as his last role.[13](https://granthammatters.co.uk/former-england-star-appointed-grantham-manager/) • [6](https://www.transfermarkt.us/carlton-palmer/profil/trainer/29149)
## Health
In 2016, while still living in China, Palmer collapsed during a sports tournament in Singapore with heart problems that led to a five-hour operation to widen his arteries.[10](https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/carlton-palmer/)
## References
1. [Carlton Palmer Football Player Statistics, 11v11.com](https://www.11v11.com/players/carlton-palmer-128/)
2. [Carlton Palmer (1041), The England International Database](https://www.englandstats.com/player.php?pid=1041)
3. [Matt Le Tissier and Carlton Palmer at war over England careers, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/premier-league/matt-le-tissier-and-carlton-palmer-at-war-over-england-careers-a6964941.html)
4. [Football: Palmer signs for Leeds, The Independent, 1 July 1994](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-palmer-signs-for-leeds-1410922.html)
5. [Carlton Palmer Manager Statistics, Manager Stats](https://www.managerstats.co.uk/managers/carlton-palmer/)
6. [Carlton Palmer Manager profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.us/carlton-palmer/profil/trainer/29149)
7. [Leeds United Player Profile: Carlton Palmer, leeds-fans.org.uk](https://www.leeds-fans.org.uk/leeds/players/481.html)
8. [The Million Pound Players, Southampton v Luton Town programme, Hatters Heritage](https://cdn.hattersheritage.co.uk/1994-95%2BSeason%2BDONE%2FMatches%2FM4151%2BSouthampton%2Bv%2BLuton%2BTown%2FProgramme%2FProgramme.pdf)
9. [Palmer outburst fuels Leeds crisis, The Independent, 26 March 1996](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/palmer-outburst-fuels-leeds-crisis-1344231.html)
10. [Carlton Palmer, SaintsPlayers.co.uk](https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/carlton-palmer/)
11. [Carlton PALMER, England, English Caps 1992–1993, sporting-heroes.net](https://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/england/carlton-palmer-5454/english-caps-1992-1993_a12042/)
12. [He's lanky, malco-ordinated and he's sco, Leeds Student, 11 November 1994](https://digital.library.leeds.ac.uk/13613/1/LUA-PUB-002-LS-585_000.pdf)
13. [Former England star appointed Grantham manager, Grantham Matters, 9 April 2021](https://granthammatters.co.uk/former-england-star-appointed-grantham-manager/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Managers and coaches › English managers and coaches*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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