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A caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of team affairs of a football club. This usually happens when the regular manager is sacked or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his usual duties.

Caretaker managers are normally appointed at short notice from within the club, usually a senior coach or experienced player. If a caretaker proves to be particularly successful during their spell in charge, they are sometimes given the manager's job full-time, for example Glenn Roeder after taking over as caretaker at Newcastle United following Graeme Souness's dismissal in 2006.

Famous examples include long-standing Arsenal assistant manager Stewart Houston, who stepped in after George Graham was abruptly sacked in the middle of 1994-95 and guided the club to the 1995 European Cup Winners' Cup final. Glenn Roeder's previous managerial position at West Ham United produced another example, when director Trevor Brooking was appointed as caretaker following Roeder's illness at the end of the 2002-03 season, then again following his dismissal early in the 2003-04 season. In Norway, a notable example occurred in 2006 when Rosenborg manager Per-Mathias Høgmo announced he was taking a leave of absence in midseason, citing health concerns. At the time, Rosenborg were 10 points behind leaders Brann. His assistant Knut Tørum was appointed on an interim basis, and proceeded to lead Rosenborg to a furious comeback, clinching the league title with one match to spare. Høgmo announced his resignation two days after Rosenborg clinched, and Tørum was named permanent manager after the season.

In November 2007, Sandy Stewart led St. Johnstone to victory in the final of the Scottish Challenge Cup in his first game in charge as caretaker manager.^[1]