Wales manager at the 2022 World Cup: Who is Rob Page?
By Max Parsons
In November 2020, Rob Page assumed temporary charge of his country's national side following the demise of a Welsh legend and has since enshrined his own name into the proud nation's folklore.
Ryan Giggs' suspension from duty might have represented a roadblock to the progress achieved by Wales over the best part of a decade, but the arrival of Page in late 2020 - and his subsequent appointment as permanent manager after Giggs' official resignation this year - has done nothing but cultivate a feel-good factor and buzz around the Cymru camp.
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Rob Page's managerial career
A goal-shy but successful centre-back with nearly 500 Football League appearances to his name, Page went into management three years after his retirement from playing, taking charge of Port Vale in 2014. Just under two years and a 38%-win percentage later, he'd find himself at Northampton where he'd last just eight months.
The 41-time capped Welshman eventually arrived in the Wales setup as the Under-21 side's coach in March 2017, before ascending to assistant manager of the senior team in August 2019.
Since then, Page has become a bit of a cult figure in Welsh football.
As caretaker boss, he earned promotion to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League, led the country to a hearty and inspiring EURO 2020 knockout-stage finish and pushed Wales to only its second qualification for a World Cup finals - in the process, the small but proud nation has found its footballing voice.
Rob Page's time as permanent Wales manager
It's safe to say things haven't been as explosive since Giggs confirmed his departure and Page was officially appointed permanent manager this summer.
Before being given the role, the 48-year-old had seen his side fall to two defeats to the Netherlands and a draw against Belgium following the legendary night in Cardiff on which they beat Ukraine to book their place in Qatar – and it hasn’t been any better since. As permanent boss, Page has overseen two more losses, against Belgium and Poland respectively.
Rob Page's salary and net worth
With a successful EFL career behind him, Page is believed to have amassed a net worth of £1-2m, although his earnings from his current role are not clear.
We can, however, speculate that the four-year deal he has recently signed is a multi-million-pound contract due to rumours of former Wales boss Giggs' annual salary of £400k.
Rob Page's record against England, United States and Iran
Wales' group-stage matches against Iran and old foe England in Qatar will be new experiences for Page - the Wales boss has never faced them at any level throughout his career.
The Dragons' matchday one encounter with the United States, however, represents familiar opposition. They were, in fact, Page's first test as his country's boss; nine days after his appointment as temporary manager in November 2020, he oversaw a 0-0 draw against the USMNT in a friendly fixture.
27 matches and an enthralling whirlwind of a journey later, Page will lead his country against the same challenging adversaries in its first World Cup fixture for 64 years.