Coyle got his first taste of management as co-player-manager at Falkirk alongside John Hughes in 2003.
He left the club for a similar role at Dundee United a year later but only made three appearances so moved to Airdrie United for more first-team action.
Coyle joined First Division club St Johnstone in April 2005 to become their new manager. He enjoyed an excellent full first season by leading the Saints to the 2007 Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup semi-finals which included a memorable victory over Glasgow Rangers.
The Saints were denied promotion to the Scottish Premier League on the final day of the season after Gretna netted a last minute goal at Ross County to go up.
Coyle guided St Johnstone to the Scottish Challenge Cup final but decided to leave for Burnley a week before the showpiece, which the Saints won with assistant Sandy Stewart in charge.
Burnley ended the 2007/08 campaign in 13th place as Coyle started to make his mark on the Clarets squad. The former Republic of Ireland international got off to a flyer in his second term as boss, winning September's Manager of the Month award after picking up five wins and a draw.
Victories over Barclays Premier League sides Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal in the quarter-final put Burnley and Coyle in the headlines.
When they met Tottenham Hotspur in the semis, the Championship outfit overcame a 4-1 first leg defeat to take the tie to extra-time after winning the second leg 3-0. A Roman Pavlyuchenko goal three minutes from time denied the Turf Moor side a shot at the final.
Success in the cup did not affect Burnley's league form and they clinched a play-off spot by finishing up in fifth place. After master-minding victories over promotion favourites Reading in both play-off semi-final matches, Coyle's Burnley saw off Sheffield United in the Wembley final with a 1-0 victory to seal a place in the top flight for the first time in 33 years.
In June 2009, Coyle was rewarded with an improved extended contract taking him through to the end of the 2012/13 season.
