Dean Brennan

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Dean Brennan

| image = Dean Brennan.png

| caption = Brennan in 2024

| full_name = Dean James Gary Brennan{{Hugman|2164|access-date=23 December 2024}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|6|17|df=y}}

| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland

| height =

| position = Winger / Attacking midfielder

| currentclub = Barnet (Head Coach)

| years1 = 1999–2000

| years2 = 2000

| years3 = 2000–2002

| years4 = 2002–2003

| years5 = 2003–2004

| years6 = 2003–2004

| years7 = 2004–2005

| years8 = 2005–2006

| years9 = 2006

| years10 = 2006

| years11 = 2006

| years12 = 2006–2007

| years13 = 2007

| years14 = 2007

| years15 = 2007–2008

| years16 = 2008–2009

| years17 = 2009–2010

| years18 = 2010–2011

| years19 = 2011–2012

| clubs1 = Sheffield Wednesday

| clubs2 = Bohemians

| clubs3 = Luton Town

| clubs4 = Hitchin Town

| clubs5 = Stevenage Borough

| clubs6 = → Hendon (loan)

| clubs7 = Grays Athletic

| clubs8 = Lewes

| clubs9 = Dunstable Town

| clubs10 = AFC Wimbledon

| clubs11 = Cambridge City

| clubs12 = Chesham United

| clubs13 = Hemel Hempstead Town

| clubs14 = Barton Rovers

| clubs15 = Halesowen Town

| clubs16 = Corby Town

| clubs17 = Aylesbury

| clubs18 = Hemel Hempstead Town

| clubs19 = Dunstable Town

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| caps2 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| caps3 = 9

| goals3 = 0

| caps4 = 47

| goals4 = 20

| caps5 = 17

| goals5 = 2

| caps6 = 4

| goals6 = 2

| caps7 = 45

| goals7 = 9

| caps8 = 12

| goals8 = 2

| caps9 = 3

| goals9 = 0

| caps10 = 10

| goals10 = 0

| caps11 = 0

| goals11 = 0

| caps12 = ?

| goals12 = ?

| caps13 = 19

| goals13 = 1

| caps14 = ?

| goals14 = ?

| caps15 = 32

| goals15 = 22

| caps16 = 0

| goals16 = 0

| caps17 =

| goals17 =

| caps18 =

| goals18 =

| caps19 = 40

| goals19 = 13

| manageryears1 = 2010

| managerclubs1 = Hemel Hempstead Town (caretaker)

| manageryears2 = 2012–2018

| managerclubs2 = Hemel Hempstead Town

| manageryears3 = 2018–2019

| managerclubs3 = Billericay Town

| manageryears4 = 2019

| managerclubs4 = Kingstonian

| manageryears5 = 2019–2021

| managerclubs5 = Wealdstone

| manageryears6 = 2021–

| managerclubs6 = Barnet

}}

Dean James Gary Brennan (born 17 June 1980) is an Irish football manager who is head coach of National League club Barnet.

As a player he was a winger / attacking midfielder who played professionally for Sheffield Wednesday, Bohemians and Luton Town before spending the remainder of his career in the English non-league.

Playing career

Brennan began his footballing career at Sheffield Wednesday but despite impressing at youth and reserve levels, he never made a first team appearance for the Owls. After being released by Wednesday in the summer of 2000, Brennan returned home to Ireland and went on trial at Bohemians. He made two appearances for the club in the FAI Super Cup but manager Roddy Collins decided not to sign the midfielder.

Brennan then went on trial at Luton Town and this time was more successful, earning a two-year contract at Kenilworth Road. He made his debut for the club in a 2–1 defeat at Wigan Athletic soon after. However, he never became a regular first team choice and in 2002 moved to Hitchin Town.

Luton would prove to be his last taste of League football as he drifted around the non-League scene with spells at Stevenage, Grays Athletic, Lewes, AFC Wimbledon, Cambridge City, Chesham United and Hemel Hempstead Town in the following years. In his brief spell with Wimbledon he earned the nickname "the Irish Beckham", a reference to his high quality crossing ability. While at Grays he helped them win the 2004–05 FA Trophy.

Coaching career

In August 2009, Brennan signed for Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division side Aylesbury. In 2010, he rejoined Hemel Hempstead Town, and in March after the sacking of manager Gary Phillips, he was appointed as caretaker manager at the age of just 29.

Brennan began a second spell with Dunstable Town at the start of the 2011–12 season. He joined as player/coach and managed the team in cup ties. In May 2012 he rejoined Hemel Hempstead Town this time as manager.{{cite web|title=Brennan Back at Tudor's Helm |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=84970 |publisher=NonLeagueDaily.com |accessdate=24 May 2012 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019142239/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=84970 |archivedate=19 October 2013 }} He guided the club to their highest ever finish (fourth in the Southern League Premier Division) to qualify for the playoffs. They reached the final against Gosport Borough, where they drew 2–2 before losing the game on penalties 5–4.

The following season saw promotion to the Conference South, after winning the Southern Premier League by 10 clear points.

After a poor start to their first season in the Conference South league, Hemel improved and eventually finished in 9th position, also reaching the First Round of the FA Cup where they lost at Bury 3–1.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

The 2015–16 National League South season saw Brennan's Hemel narrowly miss out on the playoffs as Whitehawk pipped them on the final day to fifth place.

On 18 September 2018, Brennan and his assistant Stuart Maynard were appointed by team owner Glenn Tamplin as the managerial team at National League South side Billericay Town.{{cite tweet|number=1042029969554190338|user=hemelfc|title=Breaking news |date=18 September 2018}} However, they both had their contracts terminated by Tamplin after less than four months in the job on Wednesday 16 January 2019.{{Cite web | url=https://www.billericaytownfc.co.uk/management-departure/ | title=Management Departure | date=16 January 2019 }}

On 12 February 2019, Brennan was named as the new manager of Isthmian League Premier Division side Kingstonian. Stuart Maynard was also confirmed as the club's new assistant manager. However, on 16 March 2019, following a breakdown in relations with a club director over player liaison and team strategy, Brennan and Maynard re-evaluated their position and resigned after just five games in charge.{{Cite web | url=http://www.kingstonian.com/news/dean-brennan-leaves-kingstonian/200 | title=Dean Brennan leaves Kingstonian }}

On 21 May 2019, Brennan was named as the new manager of National League South side Wealdstone, with Stuart Maynard as his assistant manager.{{Cite web | url=https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/news-blog/dean-brennan-appointed | title=Wealdstone FC appoint Dean Brennan as manager | date=21 May 2019 }} In the shortened 2019–20 season, Brennan led the club to automatic promotion to the National League, as champions of the National League South. In December 2020, he turned down an approach from Barnet F.C. to be their manager. On 2 February 2021, Brennan resigned from his role at Wealdstone, with Maynard remaining at the club.{{cite web |url=https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/post/club-statement-dean-brennan |title=Club Statement: Dean Brennan |publisher=Wealdstone FC |date=2 February 2021 |accessdate=3 February 2021}}

=Barnet=

On 10 June 2021, Brennan joined National League side Barnet in the Head of Football role with Harry Kewell taking on the role of Head Coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.barnetfc.com/news/2021/june/club-announces-new-head-of-football-and-first-team-head-coach/|title=Brennan and Kewell to spearhead new era at The Hive London|website=barnetfc.com|date=10 June 2021|access-date=10 June 2021|archive-date=10 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610134737/https://www.barnetfc.com/news/2021/june/club-announces-new-head-of-football-and-first-team-head-coach/|url-status=dead}}

On 20 September 2021, after Harry Kewell was dismissed as Head Coach from Barnet F.C. having lost five and drawn two of his seven games, Brennan was appointed as Caretaker Head Coach of the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58625601|title=Harry Kewell: Barnet sack manager after seven winless games in charge|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 September 2021|accessdate=17 February 2022}} On 17 February 2022, Brennan stepped back from his role of Head of Football and became Head Coach on a permanent basis.{{cite web|url=https://www.barnetfc.com/a-message-from-dean-brennan|title=A message from Dean Brennan|website=barnetfc.com|date=17 February 2022}}

The 2022–23 season saw Barnet in the play-off picture, ending 2022 in fifth position with Brennan being awarded with the National League Manager of the Month award for December{{cite web|url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/lets-meet-decembers-big-national-league-award-winn-74056|title=Let's Meet December's Big National League Award Winners!|website=thenationalleague.org.uk|date=9 January 2023|accessdate=10 January 2023}} and a new contract until 2026.{{cite web|url=https://www.barnetfc.com/contract-extension-for-dean-brennan|title=Contract extension for Dean Brennan|website=barnetfc.com|date=5 January 2023|accessdate=10 January 2023}}

Brennan was named the National League Manager of the Month for April and Barnet again reached the play-offs during the 2023–24 season after finishing 2nd.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-30 |title=April's All-Stars Claim The National League Honours - The Vanarama National League |url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/aprils-all-stars-claim-the-national-league-honours-81604 |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=www.thenationalleague.org.uk |language=en}} Following the conclusion of the season, Barnet stated that Brennan remained fully committed to the club after an approach from Swindon Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.barnetfc.com/club-statement-dean-brennan|title=CLUB STATEMENT {{!}} DEAN BRENNAN|website=www.barnetfc.com|date=12 May 2024|accessdate=13 May 2024}}

Managerial statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|Nat !rowspan="2"\|From !rowspan="2"\|To !colspan="5"\|Record !rowspan=2\|{{abbr\|Ref\|Reference}}
{{Tooltip\|G\|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip\|W\|Games won}} !{{Tooltip\|D\|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip\|L\|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip\|Win %\|Winning percentage}}
align=left\|Hemel Hempstead Town (caretaker) \|{{flagicon\|England}} \|align=left\|31 March 2010 \|align=left\|30 June 2010 {{WDL\|8\|2\|3\|3}}	{{cite web \|title=Hemel Hempstead Town FC: Matches \|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/hemel-hempstead-town-fc/4861/\|work=Soccerway \|publisher=Perform Group \|access-date=11 January 2023}}
align=left\|Hemel Hempstead Town \|{{flagicon\|England}} \|align=left\|24 May 2012 \|align=left\|17 September 2018 {{WDL\|304\|140\|78\|86}} \|
align=left\|Billericay Town \|{{flagicon\|England}} \|align=left\|18 September 2018 \|align=left\|16 January 2019 {{WDL\|23\|10\|5\|8}} \|{{cite web \|title=Billericay Town FC: Matches \|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/billericay-town-fc/2863/work=Soccerway \|publisher=Perform Group \|access-date=11 January 2023}}
align=left\|Kingstonian \|{{flagicon\|England}} \|align=left\|12 February 2019 \|align=left\|16 March 2019 {{WDL\|5\|0\|1\|4}} \|{{cite web \|title=Kingstonian FC: Matches \|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/kingstonian-fc/4872/\|work=Soccerway \|publisher=Perform Group \|access-date=11 January 2023}}
align=left\|Wealdstone \|{{flagicon\|England}} \|align=left\|21 May 2019 \|align=left\|2 February 2021 {{WDL\|60\|32\|9\|19}} \|{{cite web \|title=Wealdstone FC: Matches \|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/wealdstone-fc/4858/\|work=Soccerway \|publisher=Perform Group \|access-date=11 January 2023}}
align=left\|Barnet \|{{flagicon\|England}} \|align=left\|20 September 2021 \|align=left\|Present {{WDL\|199\|101\|42\|56}} \|{{cite web \|title=Barnet FC: Matches \|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/barnet-fc/755/\|work=Soccerway \|publisher=Perform Group \|access-date=11 January 2023}}
colspan="4"\|Total {{WDLtot\|599\|285\|138\|176}} !

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|Nat

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="5"|Record

!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}

!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}

align=left|Hemel Hempstead Town (caretaker)

|{{flagicon|England}}

|align=left|31 March 2010

|align=left|30 June 2010

{{cite web |title=Hemel Hempstead Town FC: Matches |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/hemel-hempstead-town-fc/4861/|work=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=11 January 2023}}

align=left|Hemel Hempstead Town

|{{flagicon|England}}

|align=left|24 May 2012

|align=left|17 September 2018

align=left|Billericay Town

|{{flagicon|England}}

|align=left|18 September 2018

|align=left|16 January 2019

|{{cite web |title=Billericay Town FC: Matches |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/billericay-town-fc/2863/work=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=11 January 2023}}

align=left|Kingstonian

|{{flagicon|England}}

|align=left|12 February 2019

|align=left|16 March 2019

|{{cite web |title=Kingstonian FC: Matches |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/kingstonian-fc/4872/|work=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=11 January 2023}}

align=left|Wealdstone

|{{flagicon|England}}

|align=left|21 May 2019

|align=left|2 February 2021

|{{cite web |title=Wealdstone FC: Matches |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/wealdstone-fc/4858/|work=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=11 January 2023}}

align=left|Barnet

|{{flagicon|England}}

|align=left|20 September 2021

|align=left|Present

|{{cite web |title=Barnet FC: Matches |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/barnet-fc/755/|work=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=11 January 2023}}

colspan="4"|Total

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web|url=http://www.aylesburyfootballclub.co.uk/playerprofile.asp?playerid=BRENNANdean|title=Aylesbury Football Club: Dean Brennan|publisher=Aylesbury F.C.|accessdate=6 January 2010}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/players.php?Psection_id=3&Psub_section_id=3&apps=1&player_id=997&squad=1&position=Midfielder |title=Player profiles: Dean Brennan |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |accessdate=6 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308110226/http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/players.php?Psection_id=3&Psub_section_id=3&apps=1&player_id=997&squad=1&position=Midfielder |archivedate=8 March 2012 }}

{{cite web |url=http://www.lutonfc.com/playerprofile.asp?PlayerID=35 |title=Luton Town: Dean Brennan |publisher=Luton Town F.C. |accessdate=6 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620050623/http://www.lutonfc.com/playerprofile.asp?PlayerID=35 |archivedate=20 June 2010 }}

{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/leagueone/3032340/Club-Guide.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505074027/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/leagueone/3032340/Club-Guide.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|title=Club guide|date=8 August 2002 | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph}}

}}