Dean Smith

Cast

Dean Smith is an English professional football manager and former player who was the manager of Premier League clubs Aston Villa F.C. and Norwich City F.C.. Starting his playing career with Walsall F.C. in 1989, over the course of five years Smith played 166 league and cup games. After signing for Hereford United F.C. in 1994, three years and 146 appearances later he moved on to Leyton Orient F.C.. In six years with Orient he made 309 appearances in all competitions, before earning a move to Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in 2003. After a season with Wednesday he moved on to Port Vale F.C., retiring in January 2005. He scored 54 goals in 566 league games in a 16-year career in the English Football League. Returning to Leyton Orient F.C., he worked as assistant manager until January 2009. In July 2009, he was appointed as Head of Youth at Walsall F.C., before taking the management reins in January 2011. He took Walsall from the relegation zone to safety in his first four months in charge. He took Walsall to the 2015 final of the League Trophy, before leaving the club to manage Brentford F.C. in November 2015. Dean Smith was appointed as Aston Villa F.C. manager in October 2018 and took the club from 14th in the Championship to the Premier League via the play-offs. He was sacked by Aston Villa in early November 2021 after a run of five straight Premier League defeats. However, Smith wasted no time in getting himself back into the sport, and was appointed manager of Norwich City F.C. just a week later. He was sacked by Norwich following the 2-1 defeat to Luton Town F.C. on Boxing Day 2022. In a surprise move, Smith was brought back to the Premier League as interim manager of Leicester City F.C. in early April 2023. After leaving Leicester at the end of the season he was appointed head coach of Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC in December 2023.