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Gary returned to the Pirelli Stadium, this time as assistant manager, barely two years after a persistent knee injury forced him to retire from playing after 47 games with the Brewers. A highly regarded coach, Gary was unveiled alongside manager Paul Peschisolido in May 2009 as part of a new look managerial team. In a playing career that saw him transferred for a total of £7m, Gary made 396 senior appearances, mainly as a defender after starting his career as a midfielder with Cambridge United. A £200,000 move to Everton followed before a three year stay at Derby County. Further moves to Birmingham City, Leicester City and Charlton Athletic followed before his knee injury forced him to give up full time football. Gary 'guested' for Albion in the official opening match for the Pirelli Stadium against Manchester United in November 2005 and Nigel Clough persuaded him to pull his boots on as a regular member of the squad shortly afterwards giving up a job with Derby's under 18 team to return to playing again.