At club level his greatest achievement was as part of the Everton team, which in 1984 won the FA Cup, in 1985 and 1987 the Football League championship and in 1985 the European Cup Winners' Cup. It was also in 1985 that he was awarded the Footballer of the Year award and came 4th in the World Soccer Player of the Year award. He made 167 appearances for Everton. In 2006, he was awarded with the 'Everton Giant' accolade.

 

Reid signed for QPR in 1989 but after one season in 1989-90 he signed for Manchester City where he remained for three years. He then had spells at clubs Southampton, Notts County, ending his playing career at Bury in 1995.

 

Since retiring from playing Reid has managed clubs Manchester City, Sunderland, Leeds United, Coventry City and Thailand before becoming assistant manager of Stoke City in September 2009.

 

More recently Reid has made appearances on Sky Sports as a football pundit. In 2007 he became a semi-regular on Sky Sports News's Saturday results programme. During the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, Reid worked for the BBC, often appearing alongside Lee Dixon in post-match analysis. He now works as a pundit and provides match analysis for the Football Channel.