Rob Page caps remarkable rise by taking Wales back to World Cup

LONDON: Rob Page will become the first man to lead Wales at a World Cup since 1958 on Monday (Nov 21) - when his side take on the United States - after a remarkable rise from the lower tiers of English league football.

A rugged centre-back in his playing days, Page played for a clutch of clubs including Watford, Sheffield United and Cardiff but spent only one season in the Premier League.

His managerial career also had a humble start, first with League One side Port Vale, then with Northampton, also in the third tier of English football.

Page started on the pathway towards becoming Wales manager when he took over the under-17s, under-19s and under-21s in 2017.

He was promoted to assistant manager under Ryan Giggs in 2019 before becoming caretaker boss the following year after Giggs was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his then girlfriend.

As the legal process dragged on, Page was given the chance to lead Wales at last year's delayed Euro 2020.

Former Manchester United and Wales star Giggs eventually resigned from his role earlier this year. He will face a re-trial on domestic violence charges after a jury failed to reach a verdict in August.

Matching a remarkable run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 was always going to be a difficult task for Wales, a nation of just three million people.

But they again surpassed expectations by qualifying from the group stage before a 4-0 demolition by an inspired Denmark in the last 16.

Like his predecessors, Page, who won 41 caps for Wales, has had to rely on moments of brilliance from Gareth Bale to reach heights as a coach he never managed as a player.

Prior to Euro 2016, Wales' last major tournament was in 1958, when they reached the World Cup quarter-finals.

Now they have reached