feels play too physically, and referees he feels do not give his players enough protection. As a manager in England, Scotland and Ireland, his teams have picked up fair play awards. He has stated that this fair play approach is based on his belief that it is "good principles that lead to good football". Gannon has also been called a 'tactical maverick' due to his unusual formations. These formations include 3–4–1–2, 4–3–2–1, 4–1–2–3, and his preferred set-up of 4–2–3–1. He has stated that he prefers formations that use four lines of players (as opposed to three lines in the classic 4–4–2) due to the added depth in defence and presence in midfield, and was inspired to use the formations by Carlo Ancelotti. He has also stated that he prefers the 4–3–3 formation to the 4–4–2 formation, and has criticised the way he perceives 4–4–2 to be 'ingrained in the culture' of English football. He is known to be extremely thorough and meticulous in preparing his players for games. Of an outspoken nature, he has had public fallings out with players, referees, chairmen, opposition players and managers, and authorities. The Guardian surmised this by saying that "the feeling about Gannon is that it is His Way or the Highway." Career statistics Playing statistics Source: A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Cup, League Trophy, Football League play-offs and Full Members Cup. Managerial statistics Honours As player Dundalk League of Ireland Premier Division: 1987–88 FAI Cup: 1987–88 Stockport County Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1996–97 Football League Fourth Division second-place promotion: 1990–91 Football League Trophy runner-up: 1991–92, 1992–93 Shelbourne League of Ireland Premier Division: 2001–02, 2003 As manager Stockport County League Two play-offs: 2007–08 National League North: 2018–19 Cheshire Senior Cup: 2015-16 Northwich Victoria Cheshire Senior Cup: 2013–14 Individual Scottish Premier League Manager of the Month: October 2009 National League North Manager of the Year: 2018–19 National League North Manager of the Month: December 2016, December 2018 References 1968 births Living people Footballers from Southwark English footballers Republic of Ireland association footballers Association football defenders Dundalk F.C. players Sheffield United F.C. players Halifax Town A.F.C. players Stockport County F.C. players Notts County F.C. players Crewe Alexandra F.C. players Shelbourne F.C. players English Football League players League of Ireland players Irish accountants English football managers Republic of Ireland football managers Dundalk F.C. managers Stockport County F.C. managers Motherwell F.C.