Manning played for the academy of his local side Norwich City before joining Ipswich Town in 2002, where he spent a year as a professional before being released in 2005. Following his release from Ipswich, Manning dropped into non-league, playing for Bishop's Stortford, Long Melford and Leiston, before enjoying a brief spell playing in Iceland for Selfoss.[1]
Upon his return from Iceland, Manning re-signed for Leiston, playing for the club between 2006 and 2008.[2] Manning later returned to Woodbridge, followed by spells with Wroxham, Melton St Audrey and Ipswich Wanderers, before retiring from football to concentrate on coaching.[1]
Staying within City Football Group, in July 2020 Manning was named head coach of Belgian First Division B club Lommel SK, where he led the previously bottom of the table side to a third-placed finish at the end of the 2020–21 season.[3]
On 13 August 2021, Manning joined League One club Milton Keynes Dons.[6] On 8 October 2021, after just eleven league games in charge, Manning was named EFL League One Manager of the Month for September 2021, a month in which he led the club to an unbeaten run of five league games achieving eleven points.[7] He repeated the achievement four months later, being named League One Manager of the Month for January 2022 after a similarly successful period.[8]
At the end of his first season, Manning had led the club to a third-place finish with 89 points and play-off qualification, having missed out on automatic promotion by a single point. The club however later failed to gain promotion via the play-offs, losing out to Wycome Wanderers over two semi-final legs.[9]
Following a poor start to the season that found his side in the relegation zone, Manning was dismissed on 11 December 2022,[10] having accumulated just fifteen points from twenty matches.[citation needed]
On 11 March 2023, Manning was appointed head coach of League One side Oxford United.[11] An impressive start to the following season for the club saw him lead his new club to four wins from five matches, and he was named League One Manager of the Month.[12] Manning left the club in November 2023 after 29 games in charge with the club second in League One.[13]
Manning favours a high possession, high pressing style of football.[16][17]
He has a reputation for developing young players, having spent much of his early coaching career working with the academy sides of West Ham United, Ipswich Town and New York City FC. Manning is credited as having contributed to the development of England international Declan Rice.[3]
