Dean Whitehead (born 12 January 1982) is an Englishfootballcoach and former professionalfootballer who is an assistant head coach atEFL Championship clubBlackburn Rovers. Amidfielder who occasionally played as a right-back, he made 622 league and cup appearances in a 19-year playing career, scoring 29 goals.
Whitehead joined his localnon-League clubAbingdon Town before he signed forFootball League clubOxford United in 1999. He played for Oxford in theSecond Division until theirrelegation into theThird Division in 2001. He was signed byChampionship clubSunderland in 2004. He wonpromotion in his first season with Sunderland, although they were relegated from the Premier League after one season. He was madecaptain byRoy Keane as Sunderland claimed an instant return to the top flight. After two more seasons in the north-east, Whitehead signed forStoke City in 2009. He helped Stoke reach the2011 FA Cup final, where the team finished runners-up toManchester City. After spending four seasons with Stoke, Whitehead signed forMiddlesbrough in 2013. He moved toHuddersfield Town two years later, helping them to get promoted from the Championship in 2017 before retiring in 2018.
He progressed through the ranks, making his first-team debut in a 2–0 win overLuton Town in theFootball League Trophy on 7 December 1999.[5][6] This turned out to be Whitehead's only appearance of the 1999–00 season, as he spent the rest of the season on the substitute bench.[7] At the end of the 1999–00 season, he signed acontract with the club.[8]
In the2000–01 season, Whitehead soon received a handful of first-team appearances for the club bymanagerDenis Smith.[9] Although he received his first-team opportunities, he found himself in a competition withMatt Murphy and other midfielders for the central role.[10] Despite being sidelined on two occasions, due to suspensions,[11] Whitehead played in 23 matches in 2000–01 season,[12] as Oxford sufferedrelegation to the Third Division.[13] At the end of the 2000–01 season, he signed a long–term contract with the club.[14]
In the 2001–02 season, Whitehead scored his first goal in the Football League againstRushden & Diamonds on 31 August 2001.[15] He was soon a first-team regular in2001–02 season, establishing himself in the midfield position.[16] However, halfway through the season, Whitehead, along withChris Hackett were subjected to criticism by managerIan Atkins for unprofessionalism over refusing to do the club's fitness programme, which were denied by the pair, who stated the whole thing was a misunderstanding.[17] Towards the end of the 2001–02 season, he began playing in a central midfield role.[18] Despite missing out three matches,[19] he played in 43 fixtures[20] as Oxford United had a poor season, finishing in 21st position.[21]
Whitehead began the 2002–03 season as a first-team regular in good form.[22] At the beginning of November, Whitehead's performances againstAston Villa andRochdale were praised by Atkins.[23] He continued with his impressive displays to the end of the year.[24] Whitehead later scored his first goal of the season on 26 December, in a 3–0 win overAFC Bournemouth.[25] However, he found his first-team chances limited between January and March.[26] As a result, he was restricted to 22 appearances in2002–03[27] as Oxford missed out on aplay-off place by a single point.[28]
In2003–04 season, Whitehead reclaimed his place in the team following the departure ofDave Savage.[29] It wasn't until on 27 September 2003 when he scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–0 win overNorthampton Town.[30] He was praised for his performances in his run of first-team football.[31] Whitehead scored his first brace of the season on 18 October, in a 4–0 win overBury.[32] He also scored afree kick on 1 November, helping his team to make a 3–1 comeback win overDarlington.[33] As a result, he was offered a two–year contract by the club, which would keep him at theKassam Stadium until 2006.[34] On 21 February 2004, he scored against Bury for the second time that season, in a 1–1 draw.[35] In a 2–1 loss againstMacclesfield Town on 1 May, Whiteheadcaptained the side for the first time, in the absence ofAndy Crosby.[36] By the end of the 2003–04 season, he made 47 appearances and scoring seven goals.[37] Whitehead was named the club's Player of the Season.[38]
After playing for the club for five seasons, his contract expired and he turned down the offer of a new one from the club.[38][39] ManagerGraham Rix revealed that Whitehead would have been appointed as Crosby's successor as captain if he signed a new contract with the club.[40]
In June 2004, Whitehead signed forChampionship clubSunderland on afree transfer.[41] Upon signing a three–year contract with the club, he revealed that his ambition and desire to play at a higher level was why he joined Sunderland.[42] Sunderland were ordered to pay £150,000 to Oxford at an FA tribunal, to compensate for the time and money put into his development.[43] Oxford would also receive 25% of any fee should Sunderland sell Whitehead.[44]
Whitehead made his Sunderland debut, coming on as a late substitute forBen Clark, in a 2–0 loss againstCoventry City in the opening game of the season.[45] He quickly became a key member of the team, playing regularly despite facing competition from other midfielders.[46] His run in the first-team saw him praised by managerMick McCarthy.[47] It wasn't until 25 October when he scored his first goal for the club, in a 1–0 win overRotherham United.[48] He then scored his second goal of the season on 11 December, in a 2–0 win overCardiff City.[49] Whitehead scored three more goals later in the season in games that ended up as Sunderland victories.[50] Following his good performance at Sunderland halfway through the season, he was given a new three-year contract during2004–05.[51] Despite missing out three matches during the season, as he went on to make forty–three appearances and scoring five times in all competitions.[52] He helped Sunderland to win the Championship in 2004–05, and was chosen as Players' Player of the Year by his teammates at the end of the season.[53]
In the2005–06, Whitehead continued to establish himself in the starting eleven, with the club playing in thePremier League.[54] Despite the club's struggles in the Premier League at the start of the season, he made a positive impact for the side.[55] His performances earned him comparison to Manchester United'sRoy Keane.[56] It wasn't until 29 October when he scored his first Premier League goal, in a 4–1 loss againstPortsmouth.[57] Three weeks later, on 19 November, Whitehead scored his second goal of the season, in a 3–1 loss againstAston Villa.[58] By November, he began playing in the right-wing position, a more unfamiliar role.[59] On 26 November, Whitehead signed a contract extension with the club, keeping him at theStadium of Light until 2010.[60] He scored a swerving 30 yards (27 m) free kick past then-England goalkeeperPaul Robinson in a 3–2 defeat againstTottenham Hotspur atWhite Hart Lane on 3 December.[61] Sunderland were eventually relegated to the Championship for the2006–07 season.[62] Despite missing out one match during the 2005–06 season, Whitehead went on to make thirty–eight appearances and scored three goals in all competitions.[63]
Ahead of the 2006–07 season,Reading had a bid of £1.2 million for Whitehead rejected in July 2006.[64] The following month, Whitehead and teammateLiam Lawrence both signed new contracts.[65] He continued to establish himself in the first-team, under the management of newly appointed manager Roy Keane.[66] Whitehead then scored his first goal of the season againstWest Bromwich Albion, in a 2–0 win during which he was named asman of the match.[67] Then, on 21 October, he scored his second goal of the season, in a 2–0 win againstBarnsley.[68] During the 2006–07 season, Whitehead resigned the captaincy to concentrate on his football but he deputised for the frequently injuredSteven Caldwell and was reappointed as captain on a permanent basis after Caldwell was sold toBurnley.[69] At one point during the 2006–07 season, Whitehead played in a right–back position following the absence ofNyron Nosworthy.[70] The following month, he reverted to his central midfield position.[71] Towards the end of the season, Whitehead scored two more goals.[72] Sunderland finished first in the Championship in 2006–07, thus making an instant return to the Premier League.[73] At the end of the 2006–07 season, Whitehead was included in thePFA Team of the Year.[74] He also came second in the club's Player of the Year vote.[75] Despite being sidelined during the 2006–07 season,[76] Whitehead went on to make forty–seven appearances and scoring four times in all competitions.[77]
Whitehead (in red, wearing a number 8 shirt) playing againstFulham in April 2008.
In the 2007–08 season, Whitehead played in the right–back position against Tottenham Hotspur in the opening game of the season before sustaining acruciate knee ligament injury in a match againstWigan Athletic in August, which ruled him out for six months.[78] He made his comeback from injury in early–November 2007 and made his first-team return on 24 November, playing every minute of a 7–1 loss againstEverton.[79] Since returning from injury, he regained his first-team place for Sunderland.[80] He then scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 loss againstManchester City on 14 April.[81] At the end of the 2007–08 season, Whitehead helped Sunderland to avoid relegation by three points.[82] Despite being sidelined during the season,[83] Whitehead went on to make twenty–eight appearances and scoring once in all competitions. During parts of the season, Whitehead played at right-back, although this ended when Whitehead moved back into central midfield.[84]
Ahead of the 2008–09 season, Whitehead was linked to a move away from Sunderland, as newly-promotion Premier League sideStoke City made a £3 million bid on him.[85] In response, he stated that he wanted to stay at Sunderland.[86] At the start of the season, Whitehead continued to remain in the starting line-up for the side.[87] After a 4–1 loss againstBolton Wanderers on 29 November, he was heavily booed by the club's supporters for the performance throughout the match, in what transpired to be Keane's last match as Sunderland manager.[88] Whitehead continued to be linked away from Sunderland throughout the Januarytransfer window.[89] Despite missing out four matches during the season,[90] Whitehead helped the side avoid relegation once again after losing 3–2 toChelsea in the last game of the season as defeats for Newcastle and Middlesbrough meant Sunderland were safe.[91] By the end of the 2008–09 season, Whitehead went on to make thirty–eight appearances in all competitions. He left Sunderland in August 2009 after making 200 appearances for the club.[92][93]
Whitehead (wearing a number 18 shirt) about to chase a ball fromArsenal'sCesc Fàbregas (wearing a number 4 shirt) during a FA Cup match in January 2010.
Whitehead signed a four-year contract with Premier League clubStoke City on 24 July 2009 for an initial £3 million fee, rising to £5 million with add-ons.[92][94] He stated that Stoke's team spirit was the main reason for his move to the club.[95] He made his debut on 15 August 2009 in a 2–0 win overBurnley.[96][97] Whitehead made a slow start to his Stoke career with a number of anonymous performances.[98] However, following a 0–0 draw withBlackburn Rovers, he earned praise from managerTony Pulis.[99] Whitehead scored his first goal for Stoke when he converted wingerMatthew Etherington'scross in the 86th-minute in a 3–1FA Cup fourth-round win overArsenal at theBritannia Stadium on 24 January 2010.[100] Whitehead wassent off against Tottenham Hotspur in March 2010 in a decision which drew refereeMike Dean heavy criticism from Tony Pulis and Matthew Etherington.[101][102]
Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Whitehead said he expected to face new competition in the club's midfield section.[107] He then made his 100th appearance for Stoke on 3 November 2011 in aUEFA Europa League match againstMaccabi Tel Aviv, scoring the first goal in a 2–1 victory.[108][109] He played in 10 of Stoke's 12 European fixtures in2011–12, and ended the season having played in 47 matches in total.[110] He made a bad start to2012–13, as on the opening day of the season away to Reading, he conceded a 90th-minutepenalty. He was sent off after picking up a secondyellow card.[111] He remained back-up to Glenn Whelan for the remainder of the season, being used mainly as a substitute, although he was assigned as a stand-in right-back in the absence ofAndy Wilkinson andRyan Shotton.[112] He was released by Stoke at the end of2012–13.[113]
Whitehead signed a two-year contract with Championship clubMiddlesbrough on 2 July 2013.[114] ManagerTony Mowbray revealed that Whitehead's experience of gaining promotion from the Championship twice was the key reason in signing him.[115] Upon joining the club, he was given a number eighteen shirt ahead of a new season.[116] He made his Middlesbrough debut in a 2–1 loss againstLeicester City in the opening game of the season.[117] Since joining the club, he quickly established himself in the starting eleven in the midfield position.[118] Despite being in the first-team, Whitehead faced strong competition from other midfielders at theRiverside Stadium.[119] After missing four matches between late–October and late–November, he returned as a late substitute on 30 November 2013, in a 1–0 win over Bolton Wanderers.[120] Whitehead scored his first and what turned out to be only goal for the club in a 2–1 loss away toDerby County on 4 December.[121] Two weeks later, on 21 December, he captained Middlesbrough for the first time, in a 2–0 win overMillwall.[122] Later in the 2013–14 season, Whitehead was suspended on three occasions, including being sent–off for dissent, in a 1–0 loss againstSheffield Wednesday on 1 March.[123] Despite this, he remained in the first-team, where he captained the side four more times later in the season.[124] Whitehead played 38 times and scored one goal in the2013–14 season,[125] as Middlesbrough finished in 12th-position.[126]
In the2014–15 season, Whitehead continued to feature in the first team at the start of the season, mostly coming on as a substitute.[127] This was due to added competition for the defensive midfield position withRichard Smallwood,Grant Leadbitter andAdam Clayton.[128][129] However, in a 4–0 win overBrentford on 20 September, he was sent–off "for an over the toptackle", leading the referee giving him a straightred card.[130] After serving a three-match suspension, he returned to the first-team from suspension, coming on as a late substitute, in a 2–0 win overFulham on 2 October.[131] Whitehead captained the side for the first time in the league, in a 1–1 draw againstWatford on 25 October.[132] However, throughout the 2014–15 season, Whitehead was demoted to the substitute bench.[133] But he did provide cover, playing twice at right–back[134] and six times in central midfield.[135] He also captained the side once again this season against Sheffield Wednesday on 28 February, which ended in a 2–0 defeat.[136] In theChampionship play-offs, Whitehead was featured three times as a right–back, including theplay-off final at Wembley, where they lost 2–0 toNorwich City.[137] Whitehead made twenty–five appearances in all competitions. At the end of the season, Whitehead left Middlesbrough as managerAitor Karanka could not guarantee him game time.[138]
In June 2015, Whitehead signed for Championship clubHuddersfield Town on a two-year contract.[139] Upon joining the club, he was given a number four shirt ahead of the 2015–16 season.[140] He made his debut in a 2–0 defeat againstHull City at theKC Stadium on 8 August.[141][142] He captained Huddersfield Town for the first time on 11 August, in a 2–1 loss againstNotts County.[143] Whitehead quickly established himself in the first-team under the management ofChris Powell.[144] He captained the side once again followingMark Hudson's absence for five matches between 12 September and 3 October.[145] Whitehead's performance saw him earned BWF Player of the Month for October and November.[146] However, he suffered a knee injury during a 2–0 win over Birmingham City on 5 December and was sidelined for two months.[147] A month later, on 23 January, Whitehead returned to the first-team from injury, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–1 loss againstBrighton & Hove Albion.[148] Since returning to the first-team, he regained his first-team place in the starting eleven for the rest of the season.[149] By the end of the 2015–16 season, Whitehead went on to make thirty–six appearances in all competitions.[141]
Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Whitehead turned down a move toRotherham United and said he would fight for his place in the first-team.[150] He missed the first two matches of the new season after being suspended over his involvement in an incident againstBrentford in the last game of the previous season.[151] He made his first appearance of the season on 20 August, where he started the whole game of a 2–1 win over Barnsley.[152] However, Whitehead struggled in the first-team underDavid Wagner, due to strong competition from other midfielders.[153] He captained the side for the first time this season, in a 2–1 win over Rotherham United on 27 September.[154] Due to Hudson's absence, Whitehead often stood in as captain, thoughTommy Smith was another stand-in captain when Whitehead was not included in the starting eleven.[155] Throughout the January transfer window, he stayed at theKirklees Stadium after being linked with a move toWigan Athletic.[156] However, in a 1–0 loss againstBurton Albion on 1 April, he was sent–off for a second bookable offence.[157] Whitehead later featured three times as an unused substitute in theChampionship play–offs, as he was part of the squad that saw Huddersfield side promoted to thePremier League after beating Reading 5–4 inpenalty shoot–out after a 0–0 draw in theEFL Championship play-off final.[158] By the end of the 2016–17 season, he went on to make twenty appearances in all competitions.[159]
Ahead of the 2017–18 season, Huddersfield announced that Whitehead had extended his contract with the club until the end of the 2017–18 Premier League season, with manager David Wagner stating: "Even if he plays less for us, he is still a very important part of the team and our dressing room."[160] He was included for the 25-man squad for the Premier League.[161] He made his first appearance of the 2017–18 season, where he started the whole game, in a 2–1 win over Rotherham United in the second round of the League Cup on 23 August.[162] Then, on 30 September, Whitehead made his first Premier League appearance – his first in four years – as a late substitute, in a 4–0 loss against Tottenham Hotspur.[163] However, his first-team appearances at Huddersfield Town continued to be restricted to the substitute bench for most of the 2017–18 season.[164] On 11 May 2018, Whitehead announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2017–18 season.[165] He made his last appearance for the club (and his football career), coming on as a late substitute, in a 1–0 loss againstArsenal in the last game of the season.[166]
Following his retirement, Whitehead took up acoaching role at Huddersfield Town as part of David Wagner's first-team technical staff, having earned a UEFA A coaching license, and took charge of the club's new Under-17 Academy age group from 1 January 2019.[167] By October, he took charge for Huddersfield Town's Under-17s side.[168]
On 16 November 2019, Whitehead joinedSam Ricketts' backroom staff atLeague One sideShrewsbury Town, replacingJoe Parkinson as first-team coach.[169] On 25 August 2020, Whitehead was promoted to assistant manager after the departure of Jon Pitts andGraham Barrow.[170] On 25 November, Whitehead and Ricketts were relieved of their duties with the club sitting 23rd in League One with just 9 points from a possible 39.[171]
Whitehead joined the coaching staff atLeague Two sidePort Vale in July 2021 as part ofdirector of footballDavid Flitcroft's summer overhaul; managerDarrell Clarke said that Whitehead "is definitely someone our squad can look up to".[172] Having helped Vale to win promotion at the end of the2021–22 season, he moved to Turkey in July 2022 to coach alongsideAdam Murray atSüper Lig championsBeşiktaş.[173] He left the club whenhead coachValérien Ismaël was sacked three months later.[174] He joinedCardiff City as a first-team coach in November 2022.[175] Following the sacking ofMark Hudson on 14 January 2023, Whitehead was placed in interim charge of the first-team at Cardiff City.[176] In the 2023 pre-season, Ismaël was appointed manager at Championship sideWatford, and Whitehead moved to work there with him as assistant head coach.[177] He joinedBarnsley as a first-team coach in July 2024, working again with Darrell Clarke.[178] He returned to Stoke City in September 2024 to link back up withNarcís Pèlach.[179][180] He left his position at Stoke in January 2025.[181] He joinedBlackburn Rovers as an assistant head coach the following month after Ismaël was appointed as manager.[182]
Growing up, Whitehead was raised in a football-loving family and supportedLiverpool.[183] He has a brother, Craig.[183] During his time at Huddersfield Town, he was known as 'Whitesey' by his teammateTommy Smith, who gave him a nickname.[184]
He is good friends withLiam Lawrence, having been Sunderland and Stoke City teammates.[185] During his time at Stoke City and Huddersfield Town, Whitehead resided in Cheshire with his wife, Louise, and their two sons, Olly and Harry.[186]
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