The charismatic English football manager and former player Neil Warnock has a family lineage unrelated to that of ex-professional footballer Stephen Warnock.
During his illustrious fifty-year management career, he has managed sixteen clubs and led teams at every level of English football, from non-league to the Premier League.
Beyond the touchline, he has also made his mark as a popular television and radio pundit, sharing his sharp insights and no-nonsense opinions with fans nationwide.
Neil began his career as a winger, playing for clubs such as Crewe Alexandra, Chesterfield, York City, Hartlepool United, Rotherham United (twice), Aldershot, Barnsley, and Scunthorpe United.
His passion for management emerged early at just 24, while still playing for Hartlepool United, he decided to pursue a career in the dugout.
After retiring from league football at 30, he wasted no time transitioning into management, taking his first managerial role with non-league Gainsborough Trinity in the 1980–81 season.
On the other hand, Stephen Warnock is a former English professional footballer who played as a left-back. He began his career at Liverpool, making his first-team debut in August 2004 during a UEFA Champions League qualifying match against Grazer AK.
Over his 14-year playing career, he represented several clubs, including Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Wigan Athletic, Leeds United, Derby County, and Bolton Wanderers. He also had shorter spells with Coventry City, Burton Albion, and Bradford City.
Internationally, he was part of England’s squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
After retiring at the end of the 2017-18 season, Stephen transitioned into media work and became a well-known football pundit.
Much like his namesake (but no relation) Neil Warnock, he now provides expert analysis on radio and television, covering various leagues and competitions.
Neil Warnock And Stephen Warnock Aren’t Related To Each Other
Despite sharing the same surname and being former English professional footballers, Neil Warnock and Stephen Warnock are not blood-related.
Some fans speculated that Stephen might be Neil’s son, but this is false. Their connection is akin to that of a master and apprentice: Neil, the seasoned manager, and Stephen, the player who once worked under him.
The two come from entirely different family backgrounds, with football being their only common thread. Interestingly, Stephen has an older brother named Neil Warnock, but this Neil is not the famous former Sheffield United manager.
Instead, he’s a devoted Everton fan with no professional football ties.
The confusion is understandable given that the managerial legend Neil Warnock is old enough to be Stephen’s father.
However, the “father and son” rumors appear to be nothing more than an internet myth that gained traction among fans.
Neil Warnock and Stephen Warnock Family Background
Neil Warnock was born on December 1, 1948, in Sheffield, England, making him 76 years old in 2025.
He has been married to Sharon for many years, and together, they have four children: James, Natalie, Amy, and William.
In 2010, the family lived in Richmond, London, though they also own homes in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall, and Dunoon, Argyll and Bute.
Tragically, Warnock lost his mother, Gladys, to multiple sclerosis when he was just 12 years old, a loss that profoundly impacted his early life.
The only comparison I can make in terms of hurt was when I was 12 and my mum died. I was standing outside the house thinking ‘why did it have to be her and why not somebody else.
On the contrary, Stephen Warnock was born on December 12, 1981, in Ormskirk, Lancashire, and is 43 years old as of 2025.
Raised in Ayrshire, he grew up in a close-knit family with supportive parents, who played a key role in his early life and career.
My parents have done so much for me to get me to this point, taking me up and down the country and to training every week when I was younger so they’ve had to sacrifice a lot of their own life for me which I can’t thank them enough for.
Stephen married Laura, and the couple welcomed two children together. However, their marriage eventually ended, leading to a profoundly challenging period in his life.
Struggling with mental health issues, Stephen admitted to contemplating suicide, overwhelmed by guilt and despair, mainly when he was unable to see his children.
He later reflected that while he blamed himself for the divorce, the separation from his kids was what truly devastated him.
Thankfully, he has since overcome his darkest moments and now courageously shares his story to raise awareness about mental health and support others facing similar struggles.
