The strange reason Neil Warnock became known as Colin | OneFootball

Neil Warnock earned an unusual nickname of Colin during his lengthy managerial career

Neil Warnock worked with an enormous number of EFL clubs during his managerial career, including Sheffield United, QPR, Middlesbrough and Cardiff City.

The 77-year-old is not currently with a club, but never say never when it comes to a potential return to management.

His last position came with Torquay United earlier this year, where he held an interim role for a brief couple of weeks.

But Warnock’s last full-time position in the EFL came with Huddersfield Town, and he oversaw 23 games with the Terriers.

The veteran coach’s management career began all the way back in 1980 with Gainsborough Trinity, and he worked his way all the way up to the Premier League.

The Yorkshireman earned a reputation throughout his career as being a tough operator, but he was more than capable of lightening up as well.

Neil Warnock’s unusual nickname

Action Images

Warnock is a well known name among supporters of English football, and his extensive career is a testament to that.

He has worked across the top four divisions, and even at a non-league level, so he has touched all the major parts of the ecosystem.

And while he is beloved by a lot of people for his work in management, he has also earned quite an unusual nickname from rival clubs.

The 77-year-old was dubbed Colin W****r by Sheffield Wednesday fans during his time in charge at Bramall Lane.

The letters of his nickname are an anagram of Neil Warnock, which makes for a creative and insulting way to refer to him.

The former Sheffield United boss was even asked about the nickname 20 years ago, and he has taken it on the chin.

He believes it’s a funny nickname, and that he's often been called a lot worse in his career.

“Well if the person think it’s funny then so be it – I’m not against anything that makes people laugh,” said Warnock in 2006, via FourFourTwo.

“I’m all for that.

“And I’ve certainly been called a lot worse.

“Put that bit in, will you? I’ve been called far worse.”

Neil Warnock’s decision to retire

Action Images

Warnock officially announced his retirement at the age of 73 in April 2022, but he later returned to take over at Huddersfield in 2023.

The 77-year-old also went on to manage Aberdeen before his final stint at Torquay earlier this year.

When asked about his return to management in 2026, he replied that the allure of the training ground was too much to walk away from entirely.

"It's that training ground!" said Warnock, via talkSPORT.

"It's what you miss... and as soon as you get back on it, you realise how much it means to you.

"I love taking the mick out of the lads' clothes and things like that."

And if Warnock is happy to dish it out, then he is sure to be happy to take it if any of his players have referred to him as Colin at any of his last jobs.

It remains to be seen whether he will return to the dugout again one last time, but it couldn’t be ruled out at this stage.

After all, Roy Hodgson made his return to Bristol City in March 2026 at the age of 78, so there’s no reason why Warnock can’t do the same.

Throughout his lengthy career, the former Sheffield United boss has earned promotion on eight occasions, which is a record for English football.

Warnock was also the subject of a self-titled fly-on-the-wall documentary in 2005, which followed his time at Bramall Lane during the 2004/05 season in which his side finished eighth in the Championship in their first year after earning promotion from League One.