| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dean Scott Keates[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1978-06-30)30 June 1978 (age 47)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Walsall, England[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder[1] | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–2002 | Walsall | 162 | (10) |
| 2002–2004 | Hull City | 50 | (4) |
| 2004–2005 | Kidderminster Harriers | 49 | (7) |
| 2005–2006 | Lincoln City | 21 | (4) |
| 2006–2007 | Walsall | 53 | (15) |
| 2007–2009 | Peterborough United | 84 | (11) |
| 2010 | Wycombe Wanderers | 13 | (1) |
| 2010–2015 | Wrexham | 160 | (13) |
| 2015–2016 | Rhyl | 22 | (1) |
| 2016 | Rushall Olympic | 7 | (0) |
| Total | 621 | (66) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2016–2018 | Wrexham | ||
| 2018–2019 | Walsall | ||
| 2019–2021 | Wrexham | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Dean Scott Keates (born 30 June 1978) is an English professionalfootball manager and formerplayer who was most recently the manager ofWrexham.
During his playing career, Keates played as amidfielder, making his professional debut for hometown club Walsall in 1996. He won promotion six times with three of his clubs – three times with Walsall in 1999, 2001 and 2007, once withHull City in 2004 and twice withPeterborough United in 2008 and 2009.
Keates came through the ranks at his hometown clubWalsall, making his professional debut as a substitute in a 1–0 loss toPlymouth Argyle on 12 October 1996. He made his first start for the club later that season on 25 January 1997, playing the full game in a 3–1 victory overNotts County.[3] He became a first team regular in thenext season as, at the age of 19, he played in 48 games in all competitions. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win away at Millwall on 3 December 1997.[4] Keates was a key member of theSaddlers' midfield in a successful1998–99 season, playing in all but three games as Walsall won promotion toFirst Division as runners-up, ahead ofManchester City.[5] Relegation followed the next year as Walsall struggled to adapt to life at a higher level, though the club immediately won promotion back to Division One with a play-off final victory overReading at the end of the2000–01 campaign. Keates played for the full 120 minutes of the game, which ended in a 3–2 win for Walsall afterextra time.[6][7] He played 15 games in the2001–02 season as Walsall survived in the division, before he was released in July 2002.[8]
Keates moved toThird Division clubHull City, initially on a non-contract basis, in August 2002.[9] By the end of September, Keates' displays had earned him a two-year contract, awarded to him by then-Hull managerJan Mølby. Despite new chairmanAdam Pearson's money being pumped into the club on new players, Keates endured a lukewarm season at Hull, playing in 35 league games as they finished mid-table.[10] The next season,2003–04, was more fruitful with Hull achieving promotion to the newly namedLeague One as runners-up. Keates, however, played no part in the campaign after December 2003 – a knee injury that kept him sidelined proved his undoing, as he could not force his way back into the team and subsequently left the club before the end of the season.[11]
On 10 February 2004, Third Division clubKidderminster Harriers, now managed by former Hull boss Jan Mølby, signed Keates on a free transfer.[11] He played in eight games as theHarriers avoided relegation back to theFootball Conference. Though he played 41 gamesthe next season, Keates and Kidderminster were relegated.[12] He left the club at the end of the season, his contract having expired.[citation needed]
On 1 July 2005, Keates signed forLeague Two clubLincoln City on a one-year deal.[13] He made his Lincoln debut in a 2–1 defeat to Notts County on 13 August 2005 and scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw withRushden & Diamonds later that month. He went on to play 24 games and score four goals for theImps.[14]
Keates re-joined former club Walsall on a free transfer on transfer deadline day in January 2006, after his Lincoln contract was cancelled by mutual consent.[15] It was initially an unhappy return for Keates as Walsall were relegated to League Two at the end of the season.[16]Richard Money was appointed as theSaddlers' new manager in May 2006, and under him, Keates was appointedcaptain. He played a key role in Walsall's promotion as champions back to League One in the2006–07 season,[17] scoring a career best 13 goals.[18] Keates was named in thePFA League Two Team of the Year for the2006–07 season, as well as being named Walsall's Player of the Season.[19][20]
Keates was signed by League Two clubPeterborough United on a three-year deal on 14 May 2007, having refused the offer of a new contract from Walsall.[20] He played 78 league games, scoring 11 goals, as Peterborough achieved successive promotions to theChampionship.[21][22] Keates was released by Peterborough United on 31 December 2009, having not played a minute of football under newPosh managerMark Cooper. He managed just 6 games and 1 goal, againstNewcastle United at St James Park, in the2009–10 season before Cooper's arrival.[23]
On 21 January 2010, Keates signed for League One clubWycombe Wanderers on a 6-month contract.[24] He scored his first, and only, goal for the club againstHuddersfield Town on 3 April 2010.[25] He was released by Wycombe on 10 May 2010.[26]
Keates signed forConference Premier clubWrexham two days after being released by Wycombe.[26] He was named captain for the season, and scored his first goal four games into the season with a 30-yard volley against former clubKidderminster Harriers.[27] In his first season for the club, Keates lead the team to a play-off semi-final againstLuton Town but they lost the tie 5–1 on aggregate.[28][29] In the2011–12 season Keates played in some major matches, including theFA Cup 3rd round match atChampionship clubBrighton & Hove Albion. A draw at Brighton'sFalmer Stadium meant a replay was to be played atThe Racecourse which Wrexham lost 4–5 on penalties, the only missed penalty being the first taken by Keates.[30] There was also déjà vu at the end of the season, as Wrexham fell to another play-off semi-final defeat toLuton Town.[31] Despite the disappointment, Keates signed a new one-year deal at the club at the end of the season.[32] The2012–13 season was disappointing one in the league as Wrexham missed out on a place in the play-offs, finishing in 10th place. The season was still to end with glory for theDragons, however, as they reached the2013 FA Trophy Final and beatGrimsby Town on penalties atWembley Stadium.[33] After becoming a fans' favourite during his time at the Racecourse, by making 180 appearances in total for the club as captain, he was released in May 2015.[34]
Following his release by Wrexham, Keates joined the coaching staff at the groundbreaking Glyndŵr Wrexham Football Academy. He joined in order to develop his coaching skills and complete his sports coaching degree at the university.[35][36] Keates refused to completely hang up his boots, however, and also signed part-time withWelsh Premier League clubRhyl.[36]
Keates returned to his roots by signing for Walsall-basedNorthern Premier League sideRushall Olympic in July 2016. He made seven appearances in the league and two in theFA Cup in a short spell forThe Pics before leaving the club to take over as Wrexham manager.[37]
Keates was appointed as Wrexham's new permanent manager on 25 October 2016 after a brief interim spell in charge after the sacking ofGary Mills.[37] With just nine games of the2017–18 National League season remaining, Keates left Wrexham forWalsall Subsequently, Wrexham failed to make the National League play-offs that season.
On 16 March 2018, Keates re-joined hometown club Walsall for a third time, this time as first-team manager.[38] On 6 April 2019, Keates was dismissed as Walsall manager following a 3–1 home defeat toOxford United.[39] This followed winning just three, drawing three and losing 14 of Keates' last 20 games as manager. The following month Walsall were relegated toLeague Two.[citation needed]
Keates was re-appointed as Wrexham's new permanent manager on 6 October 2019 after the sacking ofBryan Hughes.[40] Keates took over with Wrexham in 20th position, one place above the relegation places. On 1 December 2019 the Wrexham A.F.C. board publicly apologised to supporters for poor performances after crisis talks with Keates.[41] This was immediately following a defeat against the then bottom-of-the-table sideEbbsfleet United F.C.[42] Wrexham A.F.C. reached the lowest league position in their 155-year history.[citation needed] Following a 1–1 draw on the final day of the2020–21 season, Wrexham having missed out on play-offs, Keates' contract was not renewed[43]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Walsall | 1996–97[3] | Second Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997–98[4] | Second Division | 33 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5[a] | 1 | 48 | 2 | |
| 1998–99[5] | Second Division | 43 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5[a] | 1 | 52 | 3 | |
| 1999–2000[44] | First Division | 35 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | 41 | 2 | ||
| 2000–01[6] | Second Division | 36 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 43 | 5 | |
| 2001–02[8] | First Division | 13 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 17 | 1 | ||
| Total | 162 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 203 | 13 | ||
| Hull City | 2002–03[10] | Third Division | 36 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 4 |
| 2003–04[45] | Third Division | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Total | 50 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 4 | ||
| Kidderminster Harriers | 2003–04[45] | Third Division | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| 2004–05[12] | League Two | 41 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 44 | 5 | |
| Total | 49 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 7 | ||
| Lincoln City | 2005–06[14] | League Two | 21 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 4 |
| Walsall | 2005–06[14] | League One | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 |
| 2006–07[18] | League Two | 39 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 13 | |
| Total | 53 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 15 | ||
| Peterborough United | 2007–08[21] | League Two | 40 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 5 |
| 2008–09[22] | League One | 38 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 5 | |
| 2009–10[25] | Championship | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 1 | ||
| Total | 84 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 11 | ||
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2009–10[25] | League One | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Wrexham | 2010–11[27] | Conference Premier | 42 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 42 | 6 | |
| 2011–12[46] | Conference Premier | 31 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 33 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13[47] | Conference Premier | 41 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 7[b] | 1 | 49 | 3 | ||
| 2013–14[48] | Conference Premier | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 0 | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2014–15[49] | Conference Premier | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 6[b] | 0 | 26 | 1 | ||
| Total | 160 | 13 | 6 | 0 | — | 14 | 1 | 180 | 14 | |||
| Rhyl | 2015–16[50] | Welsh Premier League | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| Rushall Olympic | 2016–17[51] | Northern Premier League | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Career total | 621 | 66 | 34 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 42 | 3 | 724 | 70 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Wrexham | 13 October 2016 | 16 March 2018 | 73 | 25 | 26 | 22 | 034.2 | [38][52][53] |
| Walsall | 16 March 2018 | 6 April 2019 | 60 | 18 | 13 | 29 | 030.0 | [38][54][55] |
| Wrexham | 6 October 2019 | 30 May 2021 | 74 | 30 | 18 | 26 | 040.5 | [56] |
| Total | 207 | 73 | 57 | 77 | 035.3 | |||
Walsall
Hull City
Peterborough United
Wrexham
Individual
