Jason Puncheon

Jason David Ian Puncheon (born 18 June 1986) is an English professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. Puncheon started his career at Wimbledon, moving with the team as they became Milton Keynes Dons. After being released, he had a brief spell in non-league with Fisher Athletic and Lewes before climbing back up the football pyramid, eventually playing in the top-flight with Blackpool. He went on to make more than 200 Premier League appearances. Following his goal against Everton on his Blackpool debut, Puncheon has scored in all of the top four divisions of English league football, scoring for Barnet in League Two, Milton Keynes Dons and Southampton in League One, Millwall in the Championship and Blackpool, Southampton and Crystal Palace in the Premier League. He has also scored in an FA Cup Final, opening the scoring in the 2016 final for Crystal Palace as they eventually lost to Manchester United. Puncheon spent the final years of his playing career in the Cypriot First Division, with Pafos and later Anorthosis Famagusta. After retirement, he started his managerial journey with Cypriot Second Division side Peyia 2014. Following an unsuccessful spell managing in the First Division with AEZ Zakakiou and a stint in charge of Ayia Napa, Puncheon led Akritas Chlorakas to Cypriot top-flight promotion for only the second time in their history, finishing third in the 2024–25 Second Division.