Playing career
Though born in Belfast, Rice grew up in London, and after working at a greengrocers on Gillespie Road he joined the Gunners as an apprentice in 1964. He turned professional in 1966 and worked his way up through the club's youth and reserve teams. He made his first-team debut in the League Cup against Burnley on 5 December, 1967, a match Arsenal won 2-1.
Playing at right back, Rice was initially a bit-part player, making only 16 appearances in his first three seasons at Arsenal, and missed out on Arsenal's 1969-70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup win over RSC Anderlecht. However, during this time he won his first cap for Northern Ireland, against Israel on September 10 1968, while still largely a reserve player. Peter Storey was Arsenal's first choice right back, but after he was moved into central midfield at the start of the 1970-71, Rice took his place and was a near-ever present in the side that season, as Arsenal won the League and FA Cup Double.
Rice remained first-choice right back for the rest of the 1970s, playing in the 1972 FA Cup Final as well; he was an ever-present for three seasons — 1971-72, 1975-76, 1976-77. Out of the Double-winning side, he was the one who remained at the club the longest, and became club captain in 1977. As captain, Rice had the honour of lifting the FA Cup after Arsenal beat Manchester United in 1979, as well as losing two finals in 1978 and 1980. He was the only Arsenal player to play in all five of the club's FA Cup Finals between 1971 and 1980, a club record shared with David Seaman and Ray Parlour. He also led Arsenal to the 1980 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final, which Arsenal lost on penalties to Valencia.
Rice continued to play for Northern Ireland in this time, ammassing 49 caps in an eleven-year career, which ended with his final international game against England on October 17 1979, which ended in a 5-1 defeat. Rice finally left Arsenal in 1980 at the age of 31, by which time he had played 528 games in total for the club. He moved to Graham Taylor's Watford; he played 137 times for the Hornets, helping the club gain promotion to the First Division in 1981-82, and becoming captain, before retiring from playing in 1984.
Coaching career
Rice rejoined Arsenal in 1984 as youth team coach, a post he held for the next 12 years, winning the FA Youth Cup twice in 1987-88 and 1993-94. In September 1996, Rice was briefly caretaker manager of the club after the resignation of Stewart Houston, who himself was caretaker after the sacking of Bruce Rioch. He managed the side for three FA Premier League matches (all of which Arsenal won) and a 3-2 defeat in the UEFA Cup at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Upon the arrival of Arsène Wenger at the end of the month, Rice became his assistant, and has since played a key role in helping the club to their success in the 1990s and 2000s, including the Doubles of 1997-98 and 2001-02, and Arsenal's unbeaten League season of 2003-04. He holds the distinction (along with Bob Wilson) of having taken part, as player or coach, in all three of Arsenal's Doubles.
External links
References
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Last updated on Friday August 29, 2008 at 09:56:02 PDT (GMT -0700)
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