Harold Edward Wright (3 June 1909 – April 1994) was an English professional footballer and manager who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Charlton Athletic, Aldershot, and Derby County. He managed the Lebanon national team in 1959 and the India national team between 1963 and 1964.
Wright began his playing career with Harwich & Parkeston, but by 1932 he was on the books at Charlton, where he remained for three years. He spent time with Aldershot and then Derby County before the outbreak of World War II. He also appeared for Southern League sides Chelmsford City and Colchester United. He represented an England XI once in 1935 against an Anglo-Scot team in a friendly game for the King George V Jubilee Trust Fund.
Wright took up a coaching role at Guildford City following his retirement in 1949, before holding similar positions at Walsall and Luton Town. He was named as head coach at Everton in 1956, and later coached the India youth team between 1961 and 1963 in preparation for the 1963 AFC Youth Championship. In 1963, he inherited Syed Abdul Rahim's India national team, where Wright led the side to the runners-up spot in the 1964 Asian Cup, which remains the most notable triumph in professional football for India.
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Club career
Born in Tottenham, London, Wright initially played for Essex outfit Harwich & Parkeston, but by 1932 he had joined Football League side Charlton Athletic. Between 1932 and 1935, Wright made 38 league appearances, despite being understudy to Sam Bartram as Charlton rose from the Third Division to the First Division.