_085.jpg) Smith withCharlotte FC in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dean Smith[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1971-03-19)19 March 1971 (age 54) | ||
| Place of birth | West Bromwich, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Charlotte FC (head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1986–1989 | Newcastle United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1989–1994 | Walsall | 142 | (2) |
| 1994–1997 | Hereford United | 117 | (19) |
| 1997–2003 | Leyton Orient | 239 | (32) |
| 2003–2004 | Sheffield Wednesday | 55 | (1) |
| 2004–2005 | Port Vale | 13 | (0) |
| Total | 566 | (54) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2011–2015 | Walsall | ||
| 2015–2018 | Brentford | ||
| 2018–2021 | Aston Villa | ||
| 2021–2022 | Norwich City | ||
| 2023 | Leicester City | ||
| 2023– | Charlotte FC | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Dean Smith (born 19 March 1971) is an English professionalfootballmanager and former player who is the head coach ofMajor League Soccer clubCharlotte FC.
Smith began his playing career as adefender withWalsall in 1989, where over five years he played 166 league and cup games. After signing forHereford United in 1994, three years and 146 appearances later, he moved on toLeyton Orient. In six years with Orient, he made 309 appearances in all competitions before earning a move toSheffield Wednesday in 2003. After a season with Wednesday, he moved on toPort Vale, retiring in January 2005. He scored 54 goals in 566 league games in a 16-year career in theFootball League.
Returning to Leyton Orient, he worked as assistant manager until January 2009. In July 2009, he was appointed Head of Youth at Walsall before becoming manager in January 2011. He took Walsall from therelegation zone to safety in his first four months in charge. He took Walsall to the2015 final of theFootball League Trophy before leaving the club to manageBrentford in November 2015. Smith was appointed as Aston Villa manager in October 2018 and took the club from 15th in theChampionship to thePremier League via theplay-offs in the 2018–19 season, and then to the2020 EFL Cup final. Aston Villa dismissed him in November 2021 and soon joinedNorwich City for 13 months in charge. He was appointed asLeicester City manager on a short-term basis in April 2023. He was appointed head coach of American club Charlotte FC in December 2023.
Smith was offered schoolboy terms atNewcastle United at the age of 15 but was released when the club decided to focus on local players.[3] He went on to work at a powder paint company.[3]
Smith started his professional career atWalsall, as the club sufferedrelegation from theThird Division in1989–90 underJohn Barnwell's stewardship. They then struggled to adapt to life in theFourth Division under newmanagerKenny Hibbitt, finishing 16th in1990–91 and 15th in1991–92. The Saddlers qualified for theplay-offs with a fifth-place finish in1992–93, but were badly beaten byCrewe Alexandra at the semi-final stage.[3] Walsall finished tenth in1993–94, and Smith left the club, having played a total of 166 games for the Saddlers, scoring two goals.
In summer 1994, Smith was sold toHereford United for£80,000, aclub record fee for the "Bulls".[3] They finished 16th in the Third Division in1994–95 underJohn Layton. Smith wasGraham Turner'scaptain atEdgar Street during the club's rise to theThird Division play-offs in1995–96, where they were beaten by 4–2Darlington at the semi-final stage, despite Smith opening the scoring just two minutes into the first leg.
Hereford were relegated from theEnglish Football League after finishing in last place in1996–97; they had been level on points withBrighton & Hove and with a superiorgoal difference, however, goals scored was the decider. Brighton scored three more than Hereford throughout the campaign. Smith was voted the club's Player of the Year.[3] As the club's designatedpenalty kick taker, Smith scored 26 goals in 146 appearances in all competitions during his time at Edgar Street.[3] He left the club on aBosman transfer, leaving managerGraham Turner "absolutely staggered and gob-smacked" that the club's £200,000 valuation was not met.[3]
Smith signed withTommy Taylor'sLeyton Orient in August 1997, with a tribunal setting the fee at £42,500.[3] He scored ten goals in 51 games in1997–98; Orient would have finished one point outside the Third Division play-offs had they not been deducted three points. He captained Orient to the play-offs in1998–99, and converted apenalty in theshoot-out victory overRotherham United at the semi-final stage. However, his team were beaten 1–0 byScunthorpe United in theWembleyfinal.[4] Throughout the campaign he scored ten goals in 49 appearances.
Orient then struggled in1999–2000, finishing in the bottom half of the table. Smith was again a key player, scoring six goals in 50 appearances. Following a fifth-place finish in2000–01, he again captained the "O's" to the play-off final in2001, this time at theMillennium Stadium. Despite twice taking the lead againstBlackpool, they lost the match 4–2.[5] Throughout the season he scored five goals in 54 games.
He scored four goals in 51 games in2001–02, butPaul Brush's team struggled and finished in mid-table, closer to the relegation zone than the play-offs, though they were 16 points above the drop. Smith continued to feature heavily in the2002–03 campaign, though he left the club in mid-season. He had played 309 games for the club in all competitions, scoring 43 goals.
He joinedFirst Division sideSheffield Wednesday in February 2003, then managed byChris Turner. The "Owls" were relegated at the end of the season, having finished in 22nd place, four points belowStoke City. He was appointed club captain in the summer,[6] however, Wednesday struggled in theSecond Division and finished just three points above relegatedGrimsby Town. Smith played 48 games in2003–04, scoring one goal. The club then had a clear out of personnel, and Smith was one of 13 players to departHillsborough.[7] He had scored one goal in 62 appearances for Wednesday.
In July 2004, he signed forMartin Foyle'sPort Vale.[8] He played 13League One games and two cup games for the "Valiants" in2004–05, before he ended his playing days in January 2005 when he leftVale Park to becomeyouth teamcoach at his old club Leyton Orient.
After working as a youth coach at Leyton Orient from January 2005, Smith was promoted to assistant manager toward the end of the2004–05 season.[9] He attained hisUEFA Pro Licence in 2008, alongside classmates such asRoy Keane,Brendan Rodgers, andIan McParland.[10] After a poor run of form, Smith left Orient in January 2009, along with long-serving managerMartin Ling.[11]
In July 2009, Smith returned to his first club, Walsall, as Head of Youth.[12]
Smith was appointedcaretaker manager of Walsall on 4 January 2011, following the dismissal ofChris Hutchings. 17 days later, he was announced as the club's permanent manager until the end ofthe season.[13] Taking over managerial duties with his side nine points adrift at the foot of League One, Smith managed to steer Walsall out of the drop zone before the season's end.[14] On 29 January, the "Saddlers" recorded their best league result since 1986 by beatingBristol Rovers 6–1, in what was Smith's first win in charge; the three points also took Walsall off the foot of the table, though they were still seven points short of safety.[15] His team made up the difference over February, and a 1–0 win overpromotion-chasingSouthampton on 1 March saw Walsall climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since October.[16] They ended the season one point clear ofDagenham & Redbridge in the drop zone.
He let 14 players go in the summer of 2011, includingDarren Byfield,Jonny Brain,Clayton McDonald,Paul Marshall,Matt Richards,Steve Jones,Aaron Lescott,David Bevan,Julian Gray, andTom Williams. He then signed goalkeeperDávid Gróf; defendersMat Sadler andLee Beevers;[17] midfieldersKevan Hurst,[18]Claude Gnakpa,[19]Adam Chambers, andAnton Peterlin;[20] and strikerRyan Jarvis.[21] Also during the campaign he boosted his squad withloan signingsDave Martin,[22]Mark Wilson,Andy Halliday, andFlorent Cuvelier.[23] His side lost just one of their first five league games but then picked up just three points from their next seven games. They beatPreston North End on 15 October but then picked up just four points from their next eight games. From 26 November, they were beaten just once in nine matches but became the division's draw specialists as seven of these nine games finished level. They finishedthe campaign in 19th place, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
In summer 2012, he offered professionalcontracts to youth team playersMal Benning,Ben George,Aaron Williams and Kieron Morris.[24] He continued to add promising young players by bringing in 21-year-old wingerAshley Hemmings, 19-year-old former loanee Florent Cuvelier, 19-year-old wingerJames Baxendale, 20-year-old defenderPaul Downing, 19-year-old strikerConnor Taylor, 23-year-old strikerFebian Brandy, in addition to 32-year-old right-backDean Holden.[25][26][27][28][29] He also brought in full-backJames Chambers, twin brother of Adam Chambers.[30] He also brought in a number of players on loan, including:Karl Darlow (21),Sam Mantom (20),Aaron McCarey (20), andCraig Westcarr (27).[31][32][33][34] Mantom was made into a permanent signing in January.[35] Smith signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract in October, keeping him at the club until summer 2015.[36] This came after the club announced a £10,000 profit on the previous campaign as Smith's 'Total Football' approach yielded a mid-table position for the young Walsall team, in addition to praise from pundits and fans.[37][38][39] A poor run of results saw the team slip to just above the relegation zone in mid-December.[40] Walsall recovered to win four of their five games in January, as Smith was named asManager of the Month.[41] They ended the season in ninth place, six points outside the play-offs.
During a fine start to the2013–14 season, Smith, affectionately nicknamed "GingerMourinho" by the Walsall fans, took the club to an unlikely promotion push.[42] He masterminded a win at Molineux againstBlack Country derby rivals,Wolverhampton Wanderers, and also ended winning streaks by table-toppers Leyton Orient andBrentford.[43][44][45] The club could not sustain their promotion push however, and ended the campaign in 13th place. Smith released top-scorer Craig Westcarr at the end of the season, along withTroy Hewitt,Nicky Featherstone,James McQuilkin, andShane Lewis.[46]
He took Walsall tothe 2015 final of theFootball League Trophy, a 2–0 defeat toBristol City, which was Walsall's first appearance atWembley Stadium.[47] At the end of the2014–15 season he largely kept his squad together, the most high-profile player to be released beingBen Purkiss.[48] He was given a Special Achievement Award by theLeague Managers Association (LMA).[49]
Walsall started the2015–16 season well, with Smith being named League One Manager of the Month for August 2015 as the club ended the month at the top of the table.[50] Walsall rejected an approach for Smith from Rotherham United in October, describing him as "fundamental to our future plans".[51] Smith signed a new 12-month rolling contract on 16 October.[52] He was named as Football League manager of the week after his side came from two goals down to beatGillingham 3–2 on 24 October.[53] However, six weeks after signing his new contract he left Walsall for Brentford with the "Saddlers" fourth in the table; at the time of his departure he was the fourth longest serving manager in the Football League.[54]
Smith was appointed manager ofChampionship club Brentford on 30 November 2015.[55] Brentford finished the2015–16 season in ninth place, during which time Smith soldToumani Diagouraga andJames Tarkowski for a combined £3.6 million.[56] In building for the2016–17 season Smith signed 18 players, includingRomaine Sawyers (free transfer) andRico Henry (£1.5 million) from previous club Walsall.[57] The "Bees" finished the season in tenth place, and Smith said he wanted to bring in more players in order to push for the play-offs the following season.[58] He signed a new one-year contract extension in February 2018.[59] Brentford finished the2017–18 season in ninth-place and were "widely regarded as the Championship's entertainers" after Smith built an attractivepassing style of play on a shoestring budget.[60]
On 10 October 2018, Smith was appointed manager of 15th-placed Championship clubAston Villa, withJohn Terry as his assistant coach.[61][62] He was named as the EFL's manager of the week after overseeing a 3–0 win atDerby County on 10 November.[63] He immediately managed to reinvigorate the Villa attack, and only a controversial injury-timeequaliser fromlocal rivalsWest Bromwich Albion atThe Hawthorns kept them from a place in the top 6 by 7 December.[64][65] Villa's form dipped dramatically in the three months afterJack Grealish was sidelined with ashin injury picked up in that match, but on 2 March, Smith gave Grealish the captaincy on his return to the first-team and the 23-year-old inspired an important 4–0 victory over play-off rivalsDerby County.[66] Smith was given that month'sChampionship Manager of the Month award after achieving five wins in five games, including a victory overSecond City derby rivalsBirmingham City.[67] On 22 April 2019, Smith led Aston Villa to break an 109-year-old club record for longest winning run after defeating Millwall 1–0 at Villa Park to make it 10 successive victories in 10 matches. The record had previously been held at nine straight wins.[68] On 11 May, Smith oversaw his 18th win with Aston Villa as they came from behind to beat West Brom 2–1 in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-finals.[69] Three days later, Villa came from behind at West Brom to win on penalties and secure a place in theplay-off final.[70] Villa went on to win promotion to thePremier League with a 2–1 victory over Derby County.[71]
The club spent a net total of £144.5 million to bring in 12 players in the summer 2019transfer window:Jota,Anwar El Ghazi,Wesley,Kortney Hause,Matt Targett,Tyrone Mings,Ezri Konsa,Björn Engels,Trézéguet,Douglas Luiz,Tom Heaton andMarvelous Nakamba.[72] On 29 November 2019, midway through his first Premier League season with Aston Villa, Smith signed a contract extension lasting until 2023.[73] In theEFL Cup, Villa advanced pastCrewe Alexandra ofLeague Two and four Premier League sides in Brighton & Hove Albion,Wolverhampton Wanderers,Liverpool andLeicester City to reachthe final atWembley Stadium; they lost the final 2–1 toManchester City.[74] In the league though, Villa were four points deep inside the relegation zone with four games left to play of the2019–20 season, but pulled off what he called a "magnificent achievement" to clinch survival on the last day with a 1–1 draw atWest Ham United.[75][76] He elaborated by saying "I thought we used the pandemic really well. We've been solid defensively, we have looked strong and managed to stay in the Premier League."[77]
Smith strengthened the squad in summer 2020 by signingMatty Cash (£14 million fromNottingham Forest),Ollie Watkins (£28 million from Brentford),Emiliano Martínez (£17 million fromArsenal),Bertrand Traoré (£17 million fromLyon) andRoss Barkley (season long-loan fromChelsea).[78][79][80][81] On 4 October, in the third game of the2020–21 season, Smith led Aston Villa to a 7–2 home win over Premier League champions Liverpool; this was the first time a team had scored seven goals past the top-flight champions in 67 years.[82] A win against Leicester City then gave Villa their best start to a season since 1930.[83] On 26 December, Smith oversaw his century of competitive games as manager of Aston Villa with a 3–0 victory overCrystal Palace despite his team being reduced to ten men for the majority of the game due to Tyrone Mings' first-half dismissal.[84] Smith was named asPremier League Manager of the Month for December as Villa conceded just one goal in their five league games.[85] He made one signing in the January transfer window: midfielderMorgan Sanson fromMarseille for £14 million.[86] Aston Villa ended the campaign in 11th-place and Smith was keen to strengthen the squad further.[87]
In preparation for the English recordtransfer of Jack Grealish to Manchester City, a deal worth £100 million,[88] Smith brought in summer signingsEmiliano Buendía,Leon Bailey andDanny Ings for a total fee of £83 million.[89][90][91] The club also signed former playerAshley Young on a free transfer fromInter Milan,[92] and for the third time signedManchester United defenderAxel Tuanzebe on loan.[93] On 7 November 2021, Smith and Aston Villa parted company after a run of five straight defeats in the Premier League. Chief ExecutiveChristian Purslow stated that the decision was made after Aston Villa had not continued to improve in the2021–22 season as they had done in previous years.[94]
On 15 November 2021, Smith signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to become the newNorwich Cityhead coach, replacing the outgoingDaniel Farke.[95] He won his first game in charge, a 2–1 victory overSouthampton. The game made him the first manager to take charge of successive Premier League matches against the same opponent.[96] Norwich climbed out of the relegation zone on 21 January with a 3–0 win atWatford, having beatenEverton atCarrow Road six days previously.[97] However, the "Canaries" went on to win just one more Premier League game and were relegated in last place at the end of the2021–22 season, though relegation was confirmed with four games left to play.[98] On 27 December 2022, Smith was sacked as Norwich City head coach after a run of just three wins in 13 Championship matches saw the club fall from first in October to fifth in the table and twelve points off the top two; sporting directorStuart Webber said the decision was taken to "give ourselves the best possible chance of achieving our objective of promotion to the Premier League this season", whilst pundits also criticised Smith for his style of play.David Wagner became his successor.[99][100]
On 10 April 2023, Smith was appointed as manager ofLeicester City to replaceBrendan Rodgers until the end of the2022–23 season, with the club second-bottom of the Premier League with eight games left to play;Craig Shakespeare and John Terry joined his coaching staff as assistant managers.[101] He secured nine points from his games in charge, which were ultimately not enough to keep the team in the league, with the club's relegation confirmed on the final day of the season.[102] Smith left the club on 16 June.[103]
On 12 December 2023, Smith was named the head coach ofMajor League Soccer teamCharlotte FC.[104] Charlotte qualified for the2024 MLS Cup playoffs, losing toOrlando City onpenalties in round one.[105]
Dean Smith's father, Ron, was an Aston Villa supporter and a steward atVilla Park. Towards the end of his life, Ron Smith suffered fromdementia and was not aware that his son had become Aston Villa's manager.[106] On the eve of the 2019 play-off final, Dean Smith visited his father and told him "The next time I see you, I'll be a Premier League manager."[107] Ron Smith died on 27 May 2020.[108]
When Villa won the1982 European Cup final, eleven-year-old Dean was a neighbour to Villa playerPat Heard. Smith was not allowed to go to the final, but Heard ensured the young boy was on the team bus as it paraded the trophy through Birmingham. When appointed manager, Smith picked out Heard as an inspiration.[109][110]
Smith is married, and has two children - a son,Jamie, and a daughter.[111] Speaking in December 2019, he said that his family, coupled with his experiencing playing and managing in the lower leagues, have helped him to stay grounded and deal with the perceived pressure of managing a Premier League team.[112] He is a keenchess player and was a West Midlands school chess champion as a child.[113]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Walsall | 1988–89 | Second Division | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 1989–90 | Third Division | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 1990–91 | Fourth Division | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| 1991–92 | Fourth Division | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| 1992–93 | Third Division | 42 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 51 | 1 | |
| 1993–94 | Third Division | 36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 41 | 1 | |
| Total | 142 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 166 | 2 | ||
| Hereford United | 1994–95 | Third Division | 35 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 45 | 4 |
| 1995–96 | Third Division | 40 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 53 | 12 | |
| 1996–97 | Third Division | 42 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 48 | 10 | |
| Total | 117 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 7 | 146 | 26 | ||
| Leyton Orient | 1997–98 | Third Division | 43 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 51 | 10 |
| 1998–99 | Third Division | 37 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 49 | 10 | |
| 1999–2000 | Third Division | 44 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 50 | 5 | |
| 2000–01 | Third Division | 43 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 54 | 5 | |
| 2001–02 | Third Division | 45 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 4 | |
| 2002–03 | Third Division | 27 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 3 | |
| Total | 239 | 32 | 19 | 4 | 30 | 1 | 288 | 37 | ||
| Sheffield Wednesday | 2002–03 | First Division | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| 2003–04 | Second Division | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 1 | |
| Total | 55 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 62 | 1 | ||
| Port Vale | 2004–05 | League One | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 1 |
| Career total | 566 | 54 | 32 | 4 | 79 | 9 | 677 | 67 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Walsall | 4 January 2011 | 30 November 2015 | 260 | 84 | 96 | 80 | 032.31 | [115] |
| Brentford | 30 November 2015 | 10 October 2018 | 143 | 57 | 35 | 51 | 039.86 | [115] |
| Aston Villa | 10 October 2018 | 7 November 2021 | 139 | 55 | 28 | 56 | 039.57 | [115] |
| Norwich City | 15 November 2021 | 27 December 2022 | 56 | 16 | 12 | 28 | 028.57 | [115] |
| Leicester City | 10 April 2023 | 16 June 2023 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 025.00 | [115] |
| Charlotte FC | 12 December 2023 | present | 81 | 35 | 17 | 29 | 043.21 | [115] |
| Total | 687 | 249 | 191 | 247 | 036.24 | |||
Individual
Walsall
Aston Villa
Individual