1966: July 14 - Born in Paisley, Scotland.

1985: Begins his professional career with Dumbarton.

1988: Joins Clydebank.

1990: Moves to Airdrie for £175,000.

Finishes season as top scorer in the Scottish League for the 1989-90 season.

Wins promotion with Airdrie and reaches the Scottish Cup final, losing to Rangers.

1992: Appears in the European Cup Winners' Cup for Airdrie as Rangers were competing in the European Cup.

1993: Signs for Bolton for £250,000.

1994: Wins one and only cap for the Republic of Ireland, coming on seven minutes from time in a friendly against Holland.

1995: Wins promotion to the Premiership with the Trotters.

Transferred to Dundee United for £400,000.

Scores winning goal in extra-time in the play-off final against Partick Thistle to help United to promotion.

1997: Joins Motherwell.

1999: Signs for Dunfermline.

2001: Returns to former club Airdrie after a loan spell with Ross County.

2002: Airdrie go into liquidation with Coyle joining Falkirk.

2003: Becomes co-player-manager at Falkirk alongside John Hughes.

Returns to Dundee United as player-coach.

2004: Joins the newly-reformed Airdrie as player-coach following a loan spell.

2005: Takes over at Scottish First Division side St Johnstone and goes on to guide Saints to the League Cup and Scottish Cup semi-finals, while narrowly missing out on promotion to the Scottish Premier League in 2006-07 season.

2007: July - Signs one-year contract extension.

November 22 - Signs three-year contract to become manager of Burnley.

2008: Leads Burnley to League Cup wins over Chelsea and Arsenal.

2009: May 25 - Takes Clarets into the Premier League with victory over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.

June: Signs contract extension at Turf Moor amid speculation linking him with Celtic vacancy.

2010: January 4 - Burnley confirm Coyle has held talks with Bolton over the managerial vacancy at the Reebok Stadium.

January 5 - The Clarets issue a statement saying Coyle has "reaffirmed his desire to leave Burnley" and join Bolton. The clubs begin talks over compensation.

January 6 - Burnley chairman Barry Kilby voices his disappointment with events and his surprise at Coyle's "sideways" move.

January 8 - Bolton confirm Coyle as their new manager.

May - Keeps Wanderers in the Premier League, finishing 14th, as Burnley go down.

2011: April - Bolton lose 5-0 to Stoke in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley May - Bolton finish 14th in the table again.

2012: March 7 - Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffers a cardiac arrest on the pitch during at FA Cup match at Tottenham. He spends 30 days in hospital.

May - Bolton are relegated by one point after drawing 2-2 with Stoke on the final day of the season.

October 9 - Sacked by Bolton with the club 18th in the npower Championship.