As a player, Paul Ince spent the majority of a career that spanned more than 20 years in total, at the very highest level. Ilford-born in 1967, Ince emerged through the ranks at West Ham – spotted by John Lyall, he joined his boyhood club at the age of 14 as a trainee. His league debut came in November 1986, away at Newcastle, and the box-ot-box midfielder who would go on to captain his country was born.

A big money move to Manchester United saw him rise to fame alongside the likes of Bryan Robson, Mike Phelan, Brian McClair, Roy Keane and former Royal Neil Webb under Alex Ferguson – he filled in at right-back for a famous FA Cup Final replay win over Crystal Palace in his first season at Old Trafford before winning the European Cup Winners Cup against Barcelona in 1991 and then the Rumbelows Cup in 1992 at the expense of Nottingham Forest.

His domestic medal collection was complete when United won the Premier League title in its inaugural season – the club’s first league title for 26 years! A league and cup double followed in 1994 before Ince moved to Inter Milan for a reported £7.5m. He featured in a UEFA Cup Final for the Serie A side but returned to the UK to join Liverpool in 1997 and then former midfielder partner Robson’s Middlesbrough two years later.

Internationally, Ince won 53 caps for England – becoming the first black player to captain the Three Lions when he took the armband for a game against the USA in 1993. He featured in Terry Venables’ side’s Euro 96 run to the semi-final but couldn’t convert from the penalty spot in the World Cup defeat to Argentina at France ’98. His England call-up count ended after the group stage exit in Euro 2000.

Back at club level, Ince went on to earn Wolves promotion to the top flight via a play-off win over Sheffield United – and a semi-final triumph against Reading – and he made more than 100 appearances at Molineux before moving into management with player-coach positions at Swindon Town and Macclesfield. He saved Town from relegation, despite taking over the club when they sat rock bottom of the league and was appointed as MK Dons boss in 2007 – there he won the Football League Trophy and the League Two title in his first campaign in the dugout.

His managerial ability was quickly recognised and Ince became the first black manager to operate in the top tier of English football when he took charge at Blackburn Rovers before he went on to return to MK Dons, occupy the dugout at Notts County and then Blackpool.

He took the reins at Reading as Interim Manager in February 2022 and won his first game in charge, beating Birmingham City after a four month wait for a home win in RG2. A run of one defeat in seven was imperative to the Royals survival hopes with Ince guiding his side over the line with two matches to go after collecting 15 points which earned him the role full time in May 2022.