Dean Lewington
{{short description|English footballer (born 1984)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Dean Lewington
| image = Lewington, Dean.jpg
| caption = Lewington in 2011
| full_name = Dean Scott Lewington{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/202021/efl-squad-numbering-11.09.2020.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Milton Keynes |publisher=English Football League |page=43 |access-date=23 September 2020}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|5|18|df=y}}{{Hugman|11636|access-date=3 July 2018}}
| birth_place = Kingston upon Thames, England
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/teams/first-team/defender/dean-lewington/ |title=Dean Lewington |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons F.C. |access-date=8 October 2022}}
| position = Left-back / Centre-back
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2003
| youthclubs1 = Wimbledon
| years1 = 2003–2004
| years2 = 2004–2025
| clubs1 = Wimbledon
| clubs2 = Milton Keynes Dons
| caps1 = 29
| goals1 = 1
| caps2 = 791
| goals2 = 21
| club-update = 17:10, 3 May 2025 (UTC)
| manageryears1 = 2021
| manageryears2 = 2022
| manageryears3 = 2024
| managerclubs1 = Milton Keynes Dons (caretaker)
| managerclubs2 = Milton Keynes Dons (caretaker)
| managerclubs3 = Milton Keynes Dons (caretaker)
| totalcaps = 820
| totalgoals = 22
}}
Dean Scott Lewington (born 18 May 1984) is an English former professional footballer who played as a left-back and centre-back. He spent most of his career at {{English football updater|MiltonKD}} club Milton Keynes Dons, where he was also club captain.
Lewington is Milton Keynes Dons' longest-serving player and, {{As of|2023|December|26|lc=on}}, holds the record for the most career league appearances by any player for a single club in the history of the English Football League. On that date, Lewington achieved his 771st career League appearance against Colchester United, overtaking John Trollope who held the previous record of 770 appearances for Swindon Town.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67757075 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Colchester United |publisher=BBC |date=26 December 2023 |access-date=26 December 2023 }}
Since May 2025, he holds the post of Individual Development Coach for Milton Keynes Dons' Development Squad.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2025/may/13/dean-lewington-embarks-on-new-coaching-role-at-mk-dons/ |title=Dean Lewington embarks on new coaching role at MK Dons |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=13 May 2025 |access-date=13 May 2025 }}
Club career
=Wimbledon=
Born in Kingston upon Thames, London, Lewington made his Wimbledon first team debut on 5 April 2003, coming on as a last-minute substitute for Alex Tapp in a 4–2 First Division defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, his only appearance of the season.{{cite news|title=Sheffield Wed 4-2 Wimbledon|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/2898585.stm|access-date=3 May 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 April 2003}}
On 1 November 2003, he made his first start, in a 2–1 win over Bradford City at the National Hockey Stadium, their first victory in Milton Keynes.{{cite news|title=Wimbledon 2-1 Bradford|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3204927.stm|access-date=3 May 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 November 2003}} He scored his first goal on 26 December in a 3–0 win away to Reading at the Madejski Stadium, heading Adam Nowland's cross for the second of the game.{{cite news|title=Reading 0-3 Wimbledon|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3331417.stm|access-date=3 May 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 December 2003}} Lewington was sent off for violent conduct near the end of the team's 0–3 home defeat to Coventry City on 21 February 2004.{{cite news|title=Wimbledon 0-3 Coventry|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3482079.stm|access-date=3 May 2015|date=21 February 2004}} At the end of the season, Wimbledon were relegated.{{cite news|title=Wimbledon 1-0 Derby|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3676133.stm|access-date=3 May 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=9 May 2004}}
=Milton Keynes Dons=
File:MK Dons Vs Barnsley (16176319310).jpg in 2015]]
Having moved to Milton Keynes in 2003, Wimbledon were relaunched in 2004 as Milton Keynes Dons, in the newly renamed League One. Lewington almost moved to Huddersfield Town in 2005 in an exchange deal involving Pawel Abbott, however Abbott chose to stay at Huddersfield thus ending their interest. {{As of|2024|November}}, Lewington is the only former Wimbledon player at Milton Keynes Dons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67735336 |title=Dean Lewington: MK Dons captain equals appearance record in win over Morecambe |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2023-12-23 |accessdate=2024-07-25}}
He received the MK Dons captaincy after the departure of Keith Andrews to Blackburn Rovers in August 2008. On 21 March 2011, Lewington led his team to a 1–0 victory over promotion rivals Peterborough United. The Dons reached the play-offs but were defeated by Peterborough. On 2 December 2012, Lewington captained his side against AFC Wimbledon in their highly publicised first meeting. On 12 January 2013, Lewington made his 400th league appearance for Milton Keynes Dons against Bury.
Lewington scored his only goal of the 2013–14 League One season in the last minute of a 3–2 victory over Stevenage at Broadhall Way. The 2–2 draw with Rotherham United at the New York Stadium on 26 April 2014 saw Lewington make his 500th appearance for Milton Keynes Dons in all competitions. To celebrate his 500th appearance for the club, supporters of Milton Keynes Dons got together for the last home game of the season against Leyton Orient, and wore as much orange as possible (due to Lewington's hair colour). This campaign was dubbed "Orange4Lewie" and gained some publicity from Twitter, Facebook and other social media.
On 3 May 2015, Lewington scored twice and assisted two further goals as the Dons defeated Yeovil Town 5–1 on the final day of the season to earn their first promotion to the Championship.{{cite news|title=MK Dons 5-1 Yeovil|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32471126|access-date=18 May 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 May 2015}} On 20 May 2014, Milton Keynes Dons announced a testimonial match against Nottingham Forest would be played in honour of Lewington's ten years of service for the club. The match was played on 27 July 2014 at stadium:mk although 4,121 attended the game, of whom 1,286 were from Nottingham Forest.{{cite web|title=MK Dons 1-0 Forest|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2014/july/mk-dons-1-0-forest/|publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C.|date=27 July 2014 |access-date=28 March 2018}} At the time of his testimonial, Lewington had amassed over 500 appearances in league and cup competitions for Milton Keynes Dons.
Between January and May 2018 Lewington temporarily worked in a player-coach role for the club under then manager Dan Micciche.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42789224 |title=Dan Micciche: MK Dons appoint ex-England youth coach as new manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 January 2018 |access-date=7 June 2018 }} Lewington achieved his 600th league appearance and 700th appearance in all competitions for the club in January 2019 in consecutive games against Crewe Alexandra and Grimsby Town.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2019/january/skipper-set-for-600-milestone/ |title=Skipper set for 600 milestone |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=19 January 2019 |access-date=29 January 2019 }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2019/january/malvin-praises-mr.-consistent-ahead-of-700th-mk-dons-game/ |title=Malvin praises Mr. Consistent ahead of 700th MK Dons game |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=24 January 2019 |access-date=29 January 2019 }} During the 2018–19 season he played a key role in the club's automatic promotion from League Two, playing every league game during the campaign and achieving his third automatic promotion with the club.{{Soccerbase season|34865|2018|name=Dean Lewington|access-date=22 January 2019 }}
Lewington signed a further contract extension with the club in July 2020, at which point he was the longest-serving player for a single club in the Football League.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53348869|title=Dean Lewington: MK Dons captain signs new contract |publisher=BBC |date=9 July 2020 |access-date=28 December 2020 }} On 18 March 2021 – on the verge of his 800th appearance for the club – his contract was extended once again taking him into his 18th season with the MK Dons.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2021/march/deano-to-remain-a-don/ |title=Deano to remain a Don |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=18 March 2021 |access-date=18 March 2021 }} On 29 April 2021, Lewington's 800th appearance was recognised as the Moment of the Season at the 2021 EFL Awards.{{Cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2021/april/2021-efl-awards-winners-announced/ |title=2021 EFL Awards winners announced |publisher=EFL |date=29 April 2021 |access-date=30 April 2021 }} He was named Milton Keynes Dons Player of the Year for the 2020–21 season on 7 May 2021.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2021/may/lewington-named-player-of-the-year/ |title=Lewington named Player of the Year! |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=7 May 2021 |access-date=7 May 2021 }}
On 3 August 2021, just four days before the beginning of the 2021–22 season, MK Dons announced Lewington would take over as interim caretaker manager following the departure of Russell Martin, whilst the club sought a permanent replacement.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58071052 |title=Dean Lewington: MK Dons captain to take interim charge of side |publisher=BBC |date=3 August 2021 |access-date=3 August 2021 }} On 11 September 2021, Lewington made his 700th league appearance for the club in a 1–0 victory over Portsmouth.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58444677|title=Milton Keynes Dons 1–0 Portsmouth|publisher=BBC Sport|date=11 September 2021|access-date=13 September 2021}} On 3 May 2022, Dean Lewington signed a new contract until 2023, taking him into his 19th season with the club.{{Cite web |date=3 May 2022 |title=Dean Lewington to remain a Don |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2022/may/dean-lewington-to-remain-a-don/ |access-date=14 May 2022 |website=mkdons.com}}
Despite relegation in the 2022–23 season, Lewington extended his contract with the club and was included in the Dons' retained list on 20 May 2023.{{Cite web|date=20 May 2023|title=Retained list|url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2023/may/retained-list-2023/|access-date=20 May 2023|website=mkdons.com}} On 26 December 2023, Lewington made his 771st league appearance for MK Dons, setting a new record for most career league appearances by a player for a single club in the history of the English Football League, a record previously held by Swindon Town's John Trollope since 1981.
On 11 January 2024, in recognition of his record-breaking appearances and contribution to the club's perfect league record during the month prior, Lewington was named the EFL League Two Player of the Month for December 2023.{{Cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2024/january/12/sky-bet-league-two-manager-and-player-of-the-month-for-december/ |title=Sky Bet League Two Manager and Player of the Month for December |publisher=EFl.com |date=12 January 2023 |access-date=12 January 2023 }}
On 16 May 2024, shortly before his 40th birthday, Lewington signed another contract extension lasting until 2025.{{Cite web|date=16 May 2024|title=Dean Lewington extends record-breaking spell with MK Dons|url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2024/may/dean-lewington-extends-record-breaking-spell-with-mk-dons/|access-date=16 May 2024|website=mkdons.com}}{{Cite web|date=17 May 2024|title=Retained list|url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2024/may/retained-list/|access-date=17 May 2024|website=mkdons.com}} He was later awarded the PFA Merit Award for 2024 in honour of his services to football. Following the departure of Mike Williamson to Carlisle United on 19 September 2024, Lewington became caretaker head coach of the club for a third time.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2024/september/19/mike-williamson-departs-mk-dons/ |title=Mike Williamson departs MK Dons |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=19 September 2024 |access-date=19 September 2024 }} On 7 April 2025, MK Dons announced that Lewington would retire at the end of the season.{{Cite web|date=7 April 2025|title=Dean Lewington to end record-breaking MK Dons playing career|url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2025/april/07/dean-lewington-to-end-record-breaking-mk-dons-playing-career/|access-date=8 April 2025|website=mkdons.com|publisher=Milton Keynes Dons}} On 3 May 2025, he played his 917th and final game for the club against Swindon Town, coming on as a 93rd-minute substitute.{{Cite web |date=3 May 2025 |title=Swindon Town v Milton Keynes Dons |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/ckg18epmlz2t |access-date=3 May 2025 |website=BBC}}
Personal life
He is the son of former England assistant manager Ray Lewington, and the cousin of fellow footballer Luke Ayling.{{cite web|url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/bamford-ayling-hodgson-leeds-united-26663678|title=Bamford celebration explained, Ayling's Hodgson meeting and Leeds United moments missed|publisher=Leeds Live|date=9 April 2023|access-date=9 April 2023|quote="...Ray Lewington, Hodgson's long-time assistant and confidant, is Ayling's uncle."}} Lewington has two daughters: Willow (born 2017){{Cite web|title=Dean the Dad – Family Fun Day exclusive|url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2017/october/dean-the-dad--family-fun-day-exclusive/|access-date=2020-10-03|website=mkdons.com|language=en-gb}} and Lottie (2020).{{Cite web|title=Lewington wanted to play despite birth of his daughter|url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/lewington-wanted-play-despite-birth-his-daughter-2005012|access-date=2020-10-03|website=miltonkeynes.co.uk|date=29 February 2020 |language=en}}
Career statistics
=As a player=
{{updated|3 May 2025}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=As a manager=
{{updated|15 January 2025}}
| 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="8"|Record !rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
|---|
| {{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}} !{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}} !{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}} !{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}} !{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}} |
| align="left" |Milton Keynes Dons (caretaker)
|{{flagicon|England}} |align=left|3 August 2021 |align=left|13 August 2021 {{WDL|1|0|1|0|for=3|against=3|diff=yes}} |
| align="left" |Milton Keynes Dons (caretaker)
|{{flagicon|England}} |align=left|11 December 2022 |align=left|23 December 2022 {{WDL|3|1|0|2|for=3|against=7|diff=yes}} |
| align="left" |Milton Keynes Dons (caretaker)
|{{flagicon|England}} |align=left|19 September 2024 |align=left|25 September 2024 {{WDL|1|0|1|0|for=1|against=1|diff=yes}} |
| colspan="4"|Total
{{WDLtot|5|1|2|2|for=7|against=11|diff=yes}} |
Honours
Milton Keynes Dons
- Football League One second-place promotion: 2014–15{{cite book |editor-first=John |editor-last=Anderson |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2015–2016 |year=2015 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-1-4722-2416-3 |pages=238–239}}
- Football / EFL League Two: 2007–08;{{cite book |editor1-first=Glenda |editor1-last=Rollin |editor2-first=Jack |editor2-last=Rollin |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2008–2009 |year=2008 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-0-7553-1820-9 |pages=45, 272–273}} third-place promotion: 2018–19{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1646 |title=League Two: 2018/19: Current table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=6 May 2019}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2812&teamTabs=stats&season_id=151 |title=MK Dons: Squad details: 2018/19 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=6 May 2019}} - Football League Trophy: 2007–08{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7309420.stm |title=Grimsby 0–2 MK Dons |first=Mark |last=Mitchener |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 March 2008 |access-date=6 May 2019}}
Individual
- PFA Team of the Year: 2007–08 League Two,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7370319.stm |title=Ronaldo named player of the year |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 April 2008 |access-date=6 May 2019}} 2008–09 League One{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8019726.stm |title=Giggs earns prestigious PFA award |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 April 2009 |access-date=9 September 2018}}
- Football League One Player of the Month: November 2008{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/milton_keynes_dons/7773215.stm |title=Lewington receives monthly award |date=9 December 2008 |access-date=9 September 2018 }}
- Milton Keynes Dons Player of the Decade{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2014/april/ben-bags-four-awards/ |title=Ben bags four awards |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons F.C. |date=29 April 2014 |access-date=5 September 2018}}
- Milton Keynes Dons Player of the Year: 2020–21
- EFL Moment of the Season: 2021
- EFL League Two Player of the Month: December 2023
- PFA Merit Award: 2024{{Cite web |url=https://www.thepfa.com/news/2024/8/20/pfa-awards-merit-award-winner-dean-lewington |title=Dean Lewington - PFA Merit Award Winner |publisher=Professional Footballer's Association |date=20 August 2024 |access-date=21 August 2024 }}
Records
- Most career league appearances for a single club in the history of the English Football League
=Freedom of the city=
In May 2025, following his retirement from professional footballer, Lewington was awarded the Freedom of the City of Milton Keynes in recognition of his services to sport in the city.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g2lkve48xo |title=Dean Lewington to be awarded Freedom of City of Milton Keynes |publisher=BBC |date=11 May 2025 |access-date=13 May 2025 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons cat}}
- [https://www.mkdons.com/teams/mens-stats/ Dean Lewington player stats] at mkdons.com
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 =
{{Milton Keynes Dons F.C. managers}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 =
{{2007–08 Football League Two PFA Team of the Year}}
{{2008–09 Football League One PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Milton Keynes Dons F.C. Player of the Year}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewington, Dean}}
Category:Footballers from the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Category:People from Kingston upon Thames
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Wimbledon F.C. players
Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players