Bolton vs Middlesbrough: Played For Both Clubs - Jimmy Phillips

Ahead of this weekend's game, we take a look at the career of former Middlesbrough and Bolton Wanderers defender, Jimmy Phillips.

Jimmy 'Jiminiho' Phillips, born 8th February 1966, began his career with hometown club Bolton Wanderers. Phillips made his Wanderers debut in 1983, just after the club had been relegated to Division 3 (League 1). Phillips spent four years with Bolton, and played in the 1986 Football League Trophy Final, as Bolton lost 3-0 to Bristol City at Wembley. Phillips left in 1987 after the club dropped into the fourth Division for the first time in their history. In total in his first spell, Phillips played 137 games, scoring 2 goals.

Phillips went on to sign for Scottish side Glasgow Rangers for a fee of £95,000. Phillips would only spend one season at Ibrox, playing 33 times as Rangers finished third in the SPL table.

In August 1988, Phillips moved to Division 2 side Oxford United for a fee of £110,000. Jimmy Phillps spent two years at Oxford, as the U's finished 17th in both seasons. In March 1990, Phillips moved to fellow Division 2 side Middlesbrough by future Wanderers manager Colin Todd for a fee of £250,000. In total for Oxford, Phillips played 88 games, scoring 9 goals.

Colin and Todd and Jimmy Phillips didn't get off to the best start at Middlesbrough, as their first game at Ayresome Park ended in a comfortable 3-0 win for Blackburn Rovers.

Middlesbrough finished 21st that season, narrowly avoiding relegation.

The next season was more successful for Phillips at Boro. In the 1990/1991 season, Phillips made 44 appearances as Middlesbrough finished 7th and reached the Play-Off semi-finals, before losing to eventual Play-Off winners Notts County.

Over the Summer of 1991, Colin Todd quit, and his replacement was future Wanderers assistant Lennie Lawrence.

The 1991/1992 season was a complete success for Philips. Under the stewardship of Lawrence, Middlesbrough were promoted to the Premier League after finishing second in the league. Boro also reached the Semi-Finals of the League Cup, where they went out 2-1 on aggregate to Manchester United. During the same season, Phillips scored a wonderful free kick to give Boro a vital win against Tranmere Rovers.

Sadly for Boro, their Premier League stay only lasted one season. Phillips couldn't prevent Middlesbrough from finishing 21st, after losing 20 of their 42 games.

Following Boro's relegation, Phillips moved back to hometown club Bolton Wanderers in the Summer of 1993 for a fee of £250,000. In total for Middlesbrough, Phillips played 170 games, scoring 8 goals.

Bolton, who had just been promoted from Division 2, were managed by former Boro manager Bruce Rioch, with another former Boro manager, Colin Todd, his assistant.

In 1995, Phillips played a part in helping Bolton gain promotion to the Premier League.

Phillips started in the Play-Off final, as Bolton came from 2-0 down to beat Reading FC 4-3. Phillips also started for Bolton in the 1995 League Cup Final, as Bolton lost 2-1 to Premier League side Liverpool.

Just as it was at Middlesbrough, Phillips couldn't prevent Bolton from being relegated after only one season in the top flight.

The 1996/1997 season is more memorable for Phillips and the Wanderers fans. As Bolton said goodbye to Burnden Park, Phillips played 40 times as Bolton gained promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt. The Whites finished top of the league with 98 points, a then record tally in the Championship.

Once again though, Bolton were relegated after only one season, as Everton were saved only by goal difference. Phillips did score a cracking goal in a 5-2 win against Crystal Palace that season.

In 1998, Phillips had his Wanderers testimonial against Scottish side Celtic, which finished in a 1-1 draw.

Phillips went on to play for Bolton for a further three years under Todd and eventually Big Sam. Phillips retired in 2001, after Big Sam had led Bolton back to the Premier League after beating Preston 3-0 in the Play-Off Final.

In two spells at Bolton, Jimmy Phillips played 411 games, scoring 8 goals. In 2005, Phillips was voted the 37th Greatest ever Bolton Wanderers player.

After retiring, Phillips has remained with Bolton in a number of roles, most notably as academy director. In 2012, Phillips was made Wanderers' caretaker manager after the departure of Owen Coyle. Phillips returned to the role in March 2016 alongside fellow Wanderers legend, Peter Reid.