Keith Downing
Encyclopedia
Keith Gordon Downing is an English
former footballer. He made the vast majority of his appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers
, where he was nicknamed “Psycho” for his robust style playing in central midfield.
, after a spell at Mile Oak Rovers
, before moving to Wolves
in 1987. At Wolves he played over 200 league and cup games, scoring 11 goals in total, and helping the team to two successive promotions in the late 1980s.
In 1993 Downing moved to Birmingham City
, but managed only one league game, before leaving for Stoke City
and later Cardiff City
. He ended his playing career at Hereford United
, becoming player-coach in 1998 and subsequently returned to Wolves as a youth team coach.
as assistant manager in the summer of 2004, working alongside manager John Ward, who he had met through his time at Wolves where Ward had been assistant manager. When Ward left the club to join Carlisle United
in October 2007, Downing stepped in as caretaker manager, before being given the position on a full time basis on 2 November 2007. He left the club by mutual consent on 13 September 2008.
In February 2009, he was appointed assistant manager at League Two
. This was a temporary appointment to help manager Dean Glover
, both men left the club on 2 May 2009.
In July 2009, Downing was appointed the academy coach at West Bromwich Albion.
band. He has an interest in criminology
and history
, specifically the history of World War II
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer. He made the vast majority of his appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, where he was nicknamed “Psycho” for his robust style playing in central midfield.
Playing career
Downing began his professional career in 1984 at Notts CountyNotts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, after a spell at Mile Oak Rovers
Mile Oak Rovers F.C.
Mile Oak Rovers & Youth F.C. was a football club based in South Tamworth, Staffordshire, England. The club was established in 1958 and folded in 2010.-History:...
, before moving to Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in 1987. At Wolves he played over 200 league and cup games, scoring 11 goals in total, and helping the team to two successive promotions in the late 1980s.
In 1993 Downing moved to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, but managed only one league game, before leaving for Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and later Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. He ended his playing career at 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',...
, becoming player-coach in 1998 and subsequently returned to Wolves as a youth team coach.
Management career
He joined Cheltenham TownCheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
as assistant manager in the summer of 2004, working alongside manager John Ward, who he had met through his time at Wolves where Ward had been assistant manager. When Ward left the club to join Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
in October 2007, Downing stepped in as caretaker manager, before being given the position on a full time basis on 2 November 2007. He left the club by mutual consent on 13 September 2008.
In February 2009, he was appointed assistant manager at League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
. This was a temporary appointment to help manager Dean Glover
Dean Glover
Dean Victor Glover is an English former footballer and football manager. A cultured and stylish defender, he had the ball control skills of a midfielder. He played 457 league games in a seventeen year career in the Football League.He started his career at Aston Villa in 1980, before he moved on to...
, both men left the club on 2 May 2009.
In July 2009, Downing was appointed the academy coach at West Bromwich Albion.
Personal life
Downing married in 1993, and has two sons from that marriage. He has also spent time in a punk rockPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band. He has an interest in criminology
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, specifically the history of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Managerial statistics
- As of 1 April 2009.
Team Nat From To Record G W L D Win % Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C.Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
26 September 2007 5 November 2008 50 14 12 24 28.00