Dean Smith (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Dean Smith is an English
footballer turned football manager, who is now in charge of League One
club Walsall
.
Starting his playing career with Walsall in 1989, over the course of five years he played almost 150 league games. Signing with Hereford United
in 1994, three years later he moved on to Leyton Orient
. In six years with Orient he made close to 250 league appearances, before earning a move to Sheffield Wednesday
in 2003. After a season with Wednesday he moved on to Port Vale
, hanging up his boots in 2005.
Returning to Leyton Orient, he worked as assistant manager until January 2009. In July 2009, he was appointed as Head of Youth at Walsall, before taking the management reigns in January 2011. He took Walsall from relegation certainties to safety in his first four months in charge.
and was later sold for £80,000 to Hereford United
(a Hereford club record
). Smith was captain at Edgar Street during the club's rise to the Third Division playoffs
in 1995–96, where they were beaten by Darlington
. The following season Hereford were relegated from the Football League
and Smith departed to Leyton Orient
, with a tribunal setting the fee at £42,500. The period between 1995 and 1999 was his most prolific in terms of goals, scoring 34, of which 14 were penalties
.
He twice captained Orient to the Third Division
play-off final; in 1999 and 2001
, losing both times. He joined Division One
side Sheffield Wednesday
in February 2003, whom he also captained. However they were relegated
at the end of the season and Smith was one of numerous players to be shown the door. In July 2004, he signed for Martin Foyle
's Port Vale
. His playing days ended in January 2005 when he left Vale to become youth team coach at his old club Orient.
. In July 2009, Smith returned to his first club, Walsall, in the role of Head of Youth.
Smith was appointed caretaker manager of Walsall on 4 January 2011, following the dismissal of Chris Hutchings
. Seventeen days later he was announced as permanent manager of the club until the end of the season. 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.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer turned football manager, who is now in charge of League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
.
Starting his playing career with Walsall in 1989, over the course of five years he played almost 150 league games. Signing with Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
in 1994, three years later he moved on to Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
. In six years with Orient he made close to 250 league appearances, before earning a move to Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
in 2003. After a season with Wednesday he moved on to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, hanging up his boots in 2005.
Returning to Leyton Orient, he worked as assistant manager until January 2009. In July 2009, he was appointed as Head of Youth at Walsall, before taking the management reigns in January 2011. He took Walsall from relegation certainties to safety in his first four months in charge.
Playing career
He started his playing career at WalsallWalsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
and was later sold for £80,000 to Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
(a Hereford club record
Hereford United F.C. statistics
Below are statistics and records related to Hereford United Football Club.-Competition History:* Football League Second Division - finished 22nd in only season ...
). Smith was captain at Edgar Street during the club's rise to the Third Division playoffs
Football League Two play-offs
The Football League Two play-offs are a series of play-off matches, contested by the teams finishing from 4th to 7th in the Football League Two table to determine the fourth promotion place to the third tier of English football, League One. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 7th playing...
in 1995–96, where they were beaten by Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
. The following season Hereford were relegated from the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and Smith departed to Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
, with a tribunal setting the fee at £42,500. The period between 1995 and 1999 was his most prolific in terms of goals, scoring 34, of which 14 were penalties
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
.
He twice captained Orient to the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
play-off final; in 1999 and 2001
2001 Football League Third Division play-off Final
The 2001 Football League Division Three play-off Final was contested by Blackpool and Leyton Orient. It was the first season that the play-off Finals were contested in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium following the demolition of Wembley.-Route to the Final:...
, losing both times. He joined Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
side Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
in February 2003, whom he also captained. However they were relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
at the end of the season and Smith was one of numerous players to be shown the door. In July 2004, he signed for Martin Foyle
Martin Foyle
Martin John Foyle is an English former footballer, turned football manager. In his 20 year playing career he played 533 League games, scoring 155 goals...
's Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. His playing days ended in January 2005 when he left Vale to become youth team coach at his old club Orient.
Coaching career
Smith was promoted to the role of assistant manager at Leyton Orient toward the end of the 2004–05 season. After a poor run of form he left Orient, along with long serving manager Martin LingMartin Ling
Martin Ling is an English football manager and former player, who is currently manager of Torquay United in League Two. He played in over 100 Football League matches for Exeter City, Southend United, Swindon Town and Leyton Orient, before moving into management where he led Orient for over five...
. In July 2009, Smith returned to his first club, Walsall, in the role of Head of Youth.
Smith was appointed caretaker manager of Walsall on 4 January 2011, following the dismissal of Chris Hutchings
Chris Hutchings
Christopher "Chris" Hutchings is an English former footballer and former manager of Walsall. He played for a number of clubs including Chelsea and played more than 100 games for Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town...
. Seventeen days later he was announced as permanent manager of the club until the end of the season. Taking over managerial duties with his side nine points adrift at the foot of League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
, Smith managed to steer Walsall out of the drop zone before the season's end.
Managerial stats
- Competitive matches only - Correct as of 26 November 2011
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W% | ||||
| Walsall Walsall F.C. Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second... |
 |
4 January 2011 | Present |
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| Total |
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