Graham Alexander appointed Preston North End manager

Graham Alexander has been appointed the new manager of Preston North End, the club confirmed on Monday morning.

The 54-year-old leaves Bradford City, who sit top of League One after seven matches, to replace Paul Heckingbottom, sacked earlier this month with Preston second-bottom of the Championship after winning just one of their first eight league matches.

Alexander had a 50 per cent win record in charge of the Bantams, winning 79 of his 158 matches, and led them to promotion from League Two last season. Bradford “reluctantly” gave him permission to speak to Preston last week.

His long-time assistant Chris Lucketti, himself a former Preston player, joins him at Deepdale.

“It’s a special feeling to be named manager of this football club,” Alexander said. “After speaking to Preston, I knew this was the place I wanted to be. I had an amazing time here as a player and it’s great to be back.”

The appointment is a homecoming. Alexander played 352 times for North End between 1999 and 2007 and had a spell as caretaker boss in 2011-12.

Chairman Ian Penrose said Alexander was “the standout candidate” following “a detailed and extensive recruitment process”, citing his “deep affection for the club”.

Alexander’s first game in charge is at home to Millwall on Saturday 10 October — his 55th birthday.

Sources

• https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2026/09/graham-alexander-returns-to-preston-north-end-with-rescue-mission-ahead/
• https://hayters.com/i-knew-this-was-the-place-i-wanted-to-be-alexander-on-being-named-new-preston-boss/
• https://g3.football/preston-set-to-appoint-graham-alexander/
• https://citiblog.co.uk/2026/09/28/former-mk-dons-boss-graham-alexander-leaves-bradford-city-and-takes-preston-north-end-role/