Dean Smith, England football coach: Profile, Career, News & Videos

Dean Smith is an English professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC.

Smith began his playing career as a defender with Walsall in 1989, where over five years he played 166 league and cup games. After signing for Hereford United in 1994, three years and 146 appearances later, he moved on to Leyton Orient. In six years with Orient, he made 309 appearances in all competitions before earning a move to Sheffield Wednesday in 2003. After a season with Wednesday, he moved on to Port Vale, retiring in January 2005. He scored 54 goals in 566 league games in a 16-year career in the Football 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 the relegation zone to safety in his first four months in charge. He took Walsall to the 2015 final of the Football League Trophy before leaving the club to manage Brentford in November 2015. Smith was appointed as Aston Villa manager in October 2018 and took the club from 15th in the Championship to the Premier League via the play-offs in the 2018–19 season, and then to the 2020 EFL Cup final. Aston Villa dismissed him in November 2021 and soon joined Norwich City for 13 months in charge. He was appointed as Leicester City manager on a short-term basis in April 2023. He was appointed head coach of American club Charlotte FC in December 2023.