Samuel Peter Cox (born 10 October 1990) is a football manager and former player who played as a defender. He was most recently the manager of National League club Wealdstone. Born in England, he represented the Guyana national team.
Cox has also appeared in Emmy-winning TV series Ted Lasso, playing Armando, a fictional footballer for West Ham United.
Cox was "having trials at Watford and Arsenal by the time he was nine years old".
Cox started his career in the Tottenham Hotspur Academy, at the age of 15. He joined the academy full-time in the 2007âÂÂ08 season. During the 2008âÂÂ09 season, he made 24 appearances in the under-18 team and two substitute appearances in the reserve team. Cox signed his first professional contract in July 2009.
Martin Allen, manager of League Two side Cheltenham Town, signed Cox on a one-month loan deal on 1 September 2009. He made his debut on 10 October, in Cheltenham's 4âÂÂ0 away loss to Accrington Stanley. Having failed to break through at Cheltenham he returned to Spurs on 12 October. On 13 November, Cox joined Conference National club Histon on loan for a month. He made his debut in Histon's 2âÂÂ1 defeat away to Rushden & Diamonds on 14 November, before being substituted in the 67th minute. In January 2010, he joined Torquay United on loan for the remainder of the season.
Cox was released by Spurs at the end of the 2009âÂÂ10 season and joined Barnet in June 2010. Having made 10 appearances in League Two for Barnet during the 2010âÂÂ11 season Cox signed on loan for Conference South club Boreham Wood in October 2011. He was awarded 'Player of the Season', having helped the club achieve their highest ever finish in the league. In May 2012, Cox was released by Barnet due to the expiry of his contract.
On 5 July 2012, Hayes & Yeading United announced the signing of Cox on a one-year deal. Cox was immediately announced as captain for the 2012âÂÂ13 season, at the end of which he was given the 'Supporters' Player of the Year' award.
In summer 2013, Cox went on trial at Greenock Morton and Hamilton Academical, though chose to sign for Boreham Wood again in August 2013. He captained the club as they won promotion to the National League for the first time ever in 2015 and was awarded the 'Chairman's Player of the Season' prize in the same year.
On 2 September 2016, Cox signed for Wealdstone. He was awarded 'Supporters Club Player of the Year' and 'Junior Stones Player of the Year' in May 2017 at the end of his first season for the club. He spent three seasons at the Stones, during which he captained the club.
Cox spent the 2018âÂÂ19 season on loan at Hampton & Richmond Borough, before signing for the club permanently in September 2019. He departed the club in December 2021. Cox signed for fellow National League South side Braintree Town in March 2022, before moving to Welling United in July 2022, which would be the final club of his playing career.
Cox was born and raised in England, but is of Guyanese descent. He was called up to the Guyana national team in May 2015. He made his international debut the following month in a 4âÂÂ4 draw against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the Providence Stadium.
He captained Guyana as they qualified for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the first time they had qualified for the tournament in their history.
Cox earned a total of 31 caps for Guyana between 2015 and 2023, as well as appearing in four non-FIFA matches for the country.
Cox played as a holding midfielder or as a right sided defender.
Cox holds a UEFA A Licence and worked at the Tottenham Hotspur Academy alongside his playing career. In November 2018 he won the Ugo Ehiogu 'Ones To Watch' award at the 'Football Black List'.
In January 2024, Cox left Tottenham and returned to Wealdstone as first team coach and with a view of taking the role in a full-time capacity the following season. On 7 April 2024, Cox was appointed interim manager on a deal until the end of the season following the sacking of David Noble. Having taken the role with five matches remaining, three wins saw the club survive relegation on the final day of the season.
On 18 June 2024, Cox was announced as the manager of National League North side Oxford City. Following a poor start to the season, picking up just six points in his first nine league matches in charge, Cox was sacked on 27 September 2024.
On 5 June 2025, Cox was appointed manager of former club Wealdstone on a permanent basis. On 22 February 2026, he was sacked with the club in 17th position, six points clear of the relegation zone.
Cox was Brent Cross cross country champion for four consecutive years from 2003 to 2006 and 800 metres champion three successive years from 2003 to 2005.
He is vegan.