As a player, Pearson was a centre back and started out with East Midlands non-league side Heanor Town before signing for Shrewsbury Town in 1981. In six years he made 153 league appearances before moving to Sheffield Wednesday, being bought by Howard Wilkinson for £250,000.
He captained Ron Atkinson's side to League Cup victory in 1991, and played a total of 180 league games for the Owls.
Bryan Robson took Pearson to Middlesbrough in 1994 and made him captain. He skippered Boro to the Division One title in his first season, and again as they won promotion back to the Premiership in 1998 prior to retiring.
He got his first managerial appointment in December 1998, taking over team duties from Michael Knighton at Carlisle United. They avoided relegation from the Football League on the final day thanks to goalkeeper Jimmy Glass's famous goal.
He coached at Stoke City under Gary Megson and then Gudjon Thordarson from 1999-2001.
He linked up with Bryan Robson again at West Brom, where he also found himself working with former Sheffield Wednesday teammate Craig Shakespeare. Pearson later took temporary charge in between Robson leaving the club and Tony Mowbray taking over, taking 10 points from 4 games.
Glenn Roeder made Pearson his Assistant at Newcastle United in October 2006. The following year he also became Stuart Pearce's Assistant for England Under-21s, and Pearson led the team in the first game at the new Wembley Stadium in Pearce's absence.
Pearson had one game as caretaker manager at Newcastle following Roeder's resignation, and carried on as coach when Sam Allardyce joined. He had another brief spell as caretaker after Allardyce left, and decided to go as well a few weeks after Kevin Keegan took over.
Shortly afterwards, Pearson returned to management at Southampton on a rolling contract. He couldn't take Saints higher up the League One table but they avoided relegation on the last day of the 2007/08 season, and he was then replaced.
He went back to the East Midlands that summer by getting the Leicester City job. He appointed Craig Shakespeare and former Chelsea chief scout Steve Walsh to his staff. The Foxes won the League One title by a stretch.
They stepped up comfortably to the Championship, spending the entire season in the top half and securing a place in the play-offs. Defeat on penalties against Cardiff prevented them reaching the Final.