Stuart Pearce: England Caretaker Manager's 6 Defining Moments

Stuart Pearce will lead England into their international friendly against the Netherlands next week, in what will represent the proudest moment of his coaching career so far.

The man they once called "psycho" has been in charge of the England Under-21 team since 2007, and in 2008 was invited to join the senior set-up as a coach by then manager Fabio Capello.

Pearce was appointed caretaker manager after Capello's resignation and has already stated his desire to lead England into Euro 2012 this summer. It seems likely that job will go to Harry Redknapp, however.

Now seems like the perfect time to reminisce on Pearce's six defining moments in football so far.

1983: Signs for Coventry

Pearce was in his early 20s and plying his trade at non-league Wealdstone when Coventry manager Bobby Gould happened to catch sight of him in action.

Impressed with his commitment and ability on the ball, Gould paid £30,000 for the left-back and Pearce slotted straight into his team.

1985: Clough Comes Calling

In just two years at Coventry Pearce's value multiplied tenfold. He was signed by the legendary Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest for £300,000 in 1985, where he would spend the defining years of his playing career.

He would go on to become a proud captain and one of the club's most iconic players in its long and storied history.

1989: League Cup Glory

Nottingham Forest hadn't won a major trophy since 1980, so there was much riding on their League Cup final appearance in 1989.

Brian Clough's team were up against Luton, the defending champions, and would run out 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Neil Webb and Brian's son Nigel, who scored twice.

It was left to captain Pearce to lift the trophy, and he'd repeat the act a year later when Forest made it back-to-back League Cups with victory against Oldham.

1990: World Cup Heartache

Pearce made his England debut in 1987 and by the 1990 World Cup had made the left-back spot his own.

England made it through the semi-finals in Italy, where they came up against arch-enemies West Germany in a game made famous by the tears of Paul Gascoigne.

The match finished 1-1 after extra-time and went to penalties, with England a spot-kick lottery away from their first final since 1966.

But Pearce and Chris Waddle failed to score and England's quest for World Cup glory ended in heartache.

1996: Redemption

Football came home in 1996, as England hosted the European Championships and captured the mood of the nation with their bold, attacking play under manager Terry Venables.

The quarterfinals saw them up against Spain and when the game when to a penalty shootout Pearce stepped forward and volunteered to take one.

A nation held its breath, but Pearce held his nerve and six years of pain were exorcised in a wild celebration to the partisan crowd at Wembley.

2012: Appointed England Caretaker Manager

Pearce's first steps into club management didn't quite work out as planned. Having stepped in as caretaker boss at Manchester City he was given the job on a full-time basis, but a run of poor form saw him sacked two years' later.

Before he left City he took on the England Under-21 team, however, where he proved a success and led the team through two impressive campaigns at successive European Championships in 2007 and 2009.

Since 2008 he's also been working as a coach with the senior set-up and following Fabio Capello's resignation Pearce was announced as caretaker manager for the international friendly against the Netherlands.

It will likely be a one-off for Pearce, but he's confident he could do the job at Euro 2012 if required.

“I’ve got the experience to take this tournament on without a problem,’’ he said via The Telegraph. “I’ve said to my FA bosses that if they need me to take the team in the summer I’ve got the experience."