Charlton Athletic's England Under 21 international midfielder Scott Parker joined the Canaries on loan at the end of October 2000. It is believed that the move was to grant Scott some first team experience rather than prepare him for a move to Carrow Road. Scott is a graduate of Lilleshall and had made 22 league appearances for the Addicks by the time of his move. He made enough appearances that previous season to win a Division One Championship medal.

Although Scott impressed the Norwich supporters, it was unlikely that Charlton would allow a player of his talent to leave their club. Although a second month's loan was agreed, Scott was recalled to Charlton on the last day of November 2000. Scott first came to footballing fame when his ball skills as a 13 year old were used in an advert for McDonalds during the 1994 World Cup campaign even though he alleges he never got any free burgers out of it. The ad brought attention from his favourite club Spurs but Scott opted to stay with Charlton.

Scott has since been linked with £1million moves to both Wimbledon and Ipswich but has established himself as a regular in Charlton's first-team making 20 appearances in 2000/01 after his return from Carrow Road

Scott's performance for Charlton has won rave reviews during 2002/03 and he was called up for the England squad to face Australia on February 12th 2003. He was one of few players not to get any action in that game.

At the end of 2002/03 season, media speculation linked with a move across London to join Spurs. Tottenham offered £1million plus Matthew Etherington which was rejected by Charlton. Responding to media reports that Chelsea, Everton and Spurs were all preparing £4.5million bids for Parker, Charlton announced at the end of June 2003 that they had not received a single inquiry as to Parker's availability. Middlesbrough then tested Charlton's nerve with a £6million bid if you believe the media. However Scott opted to stay with the Addicks signing a new contract. In October 2003, rumours suggested that big-spending Chelsea were preparing a £5million bid for Parker. Everton manager David Moyes is also rumoured to be keen on Parker and is said to be preparing a bid in the January transfer window.

Parker's fine form for Charlton during the autumn of 2003 earned him a call-up to the England squad for the November friendly against Denmark. "I'm in a position where there are so many good players. It's going to be difficult for me, and it will be harder because I play at Charlton," Parker said. "Frank Lampard has worked so hard and, despite everything going on at Chelsea, has still been in the team. I think of him as having a similar game to mine. It was a brilliant experience being in the squad for Australia, but I am used to biding my time. If I keep playing well, maybe I have a realistic chance of going to Portugal." Parker admitted that he had hugely benefitted from his time at Carrow Road, having learnt a lot by switching from reserve team football to playing for a struggling side. Scott indeed won his first cap against the Danes. Transfer speculation the following month saw a suggestion that Scott would head to Old Trafford with Nicky Butt and £10m heading to the Valley.

January 2004 saw fresh transfer speculation with Chelsea said to have made a bid on 13th January but that was rejected by Charlton. Supposedly Parker was wanted as cover for injured midfielders Cole and Veron. A second bid of £7.5m was rejected on 20th January 2004 as Charlton demanded at first £10million, and then when Chelsea showed a willingness to pay that. they upped the price to £12million. Eventually the Blues had their way and Parker completed a £10million move on 30th January 2004.

Scott was named English Young Player of the Year for 2004 on April 25th 2004

Unhappy at being unable to make a regular first team spot under new manager Jose Mourinho, Scott was told that he could return to Charlton during the January 2005 transfer window, if you believe reports in The Sun (October 1st 2004). Everton were also said to have made him a transfer priority whilst Wigan were rumoured to have enquired about bringing him to the Latics on loan. The Everton link resurfaced on 24th October 2004 with Parker said to be, according to the People, on David Moyes' hit list along with Louis Saha (Manchester United), James Beattie (Southampton), Michael Dawson (Notts Forest) and Robbie Savage (Birmingham). However Spanish sides Athletico Madrid and Valencia have also been linked with Parker, the latter coached by his former Chelsea manaer Claudio Ranieri. Lazio were also linked by the News of the World on 24th October 2004 as Parker's former Charlton teammate Paolo Di Canio plays for Lazio and has allegedly recommended Parker to them. Liverpool were also linked to Parker that day by other media sources whilst Arsenal were said to be preparing a £5million swoop. Speculation linking Scott with a move to Gooidson Park resurfaced in January 2005 when it appeared that Everton midfielder Thomas Graveson was likely to sign for Real Madrid.

On 11th March 2005, the Daily Star reported that both Birmingham and Aston Villa were keen to sign Parker during the summer of 2005. Everton were the next club to be linked - speculation in May 2005 suggesting that they would spend £9m to bring both Parker and Chelsea teammate Forsell to Goodison Park. In the end, Newcastle stepped in and won Parker's signature for £6.5m on 15th June 2005.

He replaced Alan Shearer as Newcastle's captain in August 2006.

On 15th May 2007,the Daily Star speculated that Scott would return to London to join West Ham in an £8m transfer. This materialised on 6th June 2007 but at £7m. Parker signed a five year contract with the Hammers.

Scott was linked, along with teammate Craig Bellamy, with a transfer to Man City in January 2009

Scott was included in England's 30-man provisional squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

At the end of June 2010, Scott was linked with a £10m move to Aston Villa, presumerably as a replacement for James Milner who was expected to join Man City. On 28th July, Tottenham had a bid for Scott rejected by West Ham who insisted he was not for sale at any price, and offered him a new contract worth £20million over five years.

Scott was named the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year in April 2011

Scott added another London club to his list when he signed for Spurs on 31st August 2011 in a £5million deal that also saw David Bentley loaned to the Hammers.Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said of Parker: "He's a good player. I think he's what we need. He's a good lad, great attitude. Footballer of the Year last year and he'll be a good addition for this team - no doubt about that. He's a good character, a fantastic person, a proper family man, a real good pro. He'll be great around the place for us."

Despite a bid from QPR, managed by Parker's former boss Harry Redknapp, Parker chose to join Fulham on 19th August 2013 signing a three year deal with the Cottagers. Parker was no longer guaranteed first-team football at White Hart Lane following a number of new arrivals. He had made 62 appearances for Spurs. "He's a midfielder who works tirelessly for his team and is a fantastic player both on and off the ball," said Fulham manager Martin Jol. Fulham become his fifth London club.

Parker was released by Fulham at the end of the 2016/17 season. He had played 128 games for the Cottagers, scoring 6 goals. At the end of June 2017, he joined Spurs as an Under-18 coach.

At the beginning of July 2018, Parker returned to Fulham as first team coach. On 28th February 2019, he was appointed caretaker manager of Fulham following the sacking of Claudio Ranieri after the Italian had only been in charge for 106 days. Parker's first game in charge saw them lose to his former club Chelsea. Parker couldn't avoid Fulham being relegated to the Championship on 2nd April 2019 when they lost to Watford. Despite relegation, Parker was given a two year contract as Head Coach on 10th May 2019. Parker then oversaw Fulham's return to the Premier League the following season with the Cottagers beating Brentford 2-1 in the Play-Off final on 4th August 2020. Both sides had finished the regular season on 81 points with Fulham finishing fourth.

Fulham's foray into the Premier League was short-lived with the Cottagers relegated on 10th May 2021 following a 2-0 home defeat to Burnley. This didn't impact on Parer's standing with him being linked with the vacant manager's position at Tottenham following the sacking of Jose Mourinho. Following relegation, Parker insisted that Fulham must try to break the cycle of relegation and promotion and establish themselves in the top flight. On 28th June 2021, the club announced that Parker had left the club by mutual consent. The same day saw him appointed as head coach of Bournemouth on a three year contract replacing Jonathan Woodgate.

Bournemouth were promoted to the Premier League on 3rd May 2022 finishing second in the Championship behind Fulham.

He was sacked as Bournemouth manager on 30th August 2022 following a 9-0 defeat to Liverpool and criticising the level of support in the transfer market. He was replaced by his first team coach Gary O'Neil.

Parker was linked to the Norwich City manager's role in December 2022 following the sacking of Dean Smith. However he signed on 2nd January 2023 as manager of Belgian side Club Brugge, who are competing in the Champions League. Brugge parted ways with previous head coach Carl Hoefkens earlier that week with the club sitting fourth in the Belgian Pro League table. He was sacked by Club Brugge on 8th March 2023 following a 7-1 aggregate Champions League last 16 defeat to Sporting Lisbon with Brugge having won just two of the previous 12 games leaving them 21 points adrift of the Belgian league leaders.

On 14th June 2023 Parker was linked with the vacant managerial position at Leicester City with unofficial rumours claiming that it was a done deal. He was also linked with the vacancy at Leeds United.

Despite competition from Frank Lampard and Ruud van Nistlerooy, Scott was appointed as the new manager of Burnley on 5th July 2024 replacing Bayern Munich-bound Vincent Kompany. After leading Fulham and Bournemouth from the Championship into the Premier League, Parker will be aiming to do the same with the Clarets. He signed a three year deal.

PLAYING CAREER

Club	Season	League		Cup		Europe		Total
		Appearances	Goals	Appearances	Goals	Appearances	Goals	Appearances	Goals
Charlton	1997/98	3	0	1	0	0	0	4	0
	1998/99	4	0	2	0	0	0	2	0
	1999/00	15	1	4	0			19	1
Norwich	2000/01	6	1					6	1
Charlton	2000/01	20	1	5	0	0	0	25	1
	2001/02	38	1	3	0			41	1
	2002/03	28	4	1	0			29	4
	2003/04	20	2	2	1			22	3
Chelsea	2003/04	7	1	1	0	4	0	12	1
	2004/5	1	0	3	0	3	0	7	0
Newcastle	2005/6	26	1	5	1	4	0	35	2
	2006/7	29	3	2	0	10	0	41	3
West Ham United	2007/8	18	1	2	0	0	0	20	1
	2008/9	28	1	4	0	0	0	32	1
	2009/10	29	2	2	0	0	0	31	2
	2010/11	32	5	8	2	0	0	40	7
	2011/12	4	1	0	0	0	0	4	1
Tottenham	2011/12	29	0	5	0	0	0	34	0
	2012/13	21	0	2	0	6	0	29	0
Fulhan	2013/14	29	2	3	0	0	0	32	2
	2015/15	37	3	4	0	0	0	41	3
	2015/16	24	1	0	0	0	0	24	1
	2016/17	29	0	2	0	0	0	31	0