Keith Downing
{{Short description|English football player and manager (born 1965)}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Keith Downing
| image =
| fullname = Keith Gordon Downing{{Hugman|5407|access-date=9 March 2017}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|7|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Oldbury, England
| currentclub =
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=8}}{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00roll |url-access=registration |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81 |editor-first=Jack |editor-last=Rollin |publisher=Queen Anne Press|location=London |year=1980 |isbn=0362020175 |page=270}}
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Chelsea
| years1 = 1983–1984 |clubs1 = Mile Oak Rovers |caps1 = |goals1 =
| years2 = 1984–1987 |clubs2 = Notts County |caps2 = 23 |goals2 = 1
| years3 = 1987–1993 |clubs3 = Wolverhampton Wanderers |caps3 = 191 |goals3 = 8
| years4 = 1993–1994 |clubs4 = Birmingham City |caps4 = 1 |goals4 = 0
| years5 = 1994–1995 |clubs5 = Stoke City |caps5 = 16 |goals5 = 0
| years6 = 1995 |clubs6 = Cardiff City |caps6 = 4 |goals6 = 0
| years7 = 1995–1999 |clubs7 = Hereford United |caps7 = 45 |goals7 = 0
| totalcaps = 280|totalgoals = 9
| manageryears1 = 2007–2008| managerclubs1 = Cheltenham Town
| manageryears2 = 2013–2014| managerclubs2 = West Bromwich Albion (caretaker)
| manageryears3 = 2015–2016| managerclubs3 = England U20
| manageryears4 = 2016–2020| managerclubs4 = England U19
}}
Keith Gordon Downing (born 23 July 1965) is an English former footballer and football manager who is an assistant coach at {{English football updater|DerbyCou}} club Derby County. He made most of his appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A former Chelsea youth team player, he moved from Mile Oak Rovers into the English Football League with Notts County in 1984. Three years later, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers. He spent six years with Wolves, winning the Football League Trophy in 1988 and successive Fourth Division and Third Division titles in 1987–88 and 1988–89. He joined Birmingham City in 1993 before moving on to Stoke City the following year. In 1995, he joined Hereford United via Cardiff City, and retired in 1999.
Downing went on to become a coach and also spent September 2007 to November 2008 as Cheltenham Town manager, and served West Bromwich Albion as caretaker manager for a brief spell in the 2013–14 Premier League season. He was appointed England U20 head coach in July 2015 and then took up the same role at the England U19's 13 months later, whom he led to the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship title.
Playing career
=Early career=
Downing was a junior player at Chelsea but left Stamford Bridge at the end of the 1982–83 season. He spent a season with Mile Oak Rovers. He began his professional career in 1984 at Richie Barker's Notts County, who went on to be relegated out of the Second Division at the end of the 1984–85 season. The "Magpies" finished eighth in the Third Division in the 1985–86 season and then seventh in 1986–87 under the stewardship of Jimmy Sirrel.
=Wolverhampton Wanderers=
He left Meadow Lane and moved on to Graham Turner's Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1987. Wolves won promotion as champions of the Fourth Division in 1987–88, and Downing also played in the 1988 Football League Trophy final victory over Burnley at Wembley Stadium.{{cite web |title=Keith Downing is the latest Old Gold Club inductee |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20190213-keith-downing-is-the-latest-old-gold-club-inductee/ |website=www.wolves.co.uk |access-date=14 June 2019 |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Wolves won a second-successive promotion in the 1988–89 season, winning the Third Division title by an eight-point margin. The club made a push for promotion out of the Second Division in 1989–90 but ended up in tenth place, seven points outside of the play-off places. Downing appeared 35 times in both the 1990–91 and 1991–92 seasons, as Wolves finished in 12th and then 11th position. He played 37 times in the 1992–93 campaign before leaving Molineux in the summer.
=Later career=
In July 1993, Downing moved to Birmingham City. However, he featured only twice for Blues in the 1993–94 season and left St Andrew's in the summer. He remained in the Midlands and the First Division for the 1994–95 season, playing 24 games for Stoke City. He began the 1995–96 season with Cardiff City, before being reunited with Graham Turner at Hereford United in September 1995. The "Bulls" finished sixth in the Third Division in the 1995–96 campaign, losing to Darlington in the play-offs. He made 13 appearances in the 1996–97 campaign as Hereford dropped out of the Football League with a last-place finish. He became player-coach in 1998 and subsequently returned to Wolves as a youth team coach in March 1999.{{cite news|title=Downing earns Robins post|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cheltenham_town/3863639.stm|access-date=20 June 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=3 July 2004}}
Managerial career
=Cheltenham Town=
Downing joined Cheltenham Town as an assistant manager in July 2004, working alongside manager John Ward, who he had met through his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers 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. He endured a difficult start to his management career, but was aided by three loan signings from Bristol City in the January transfer window – Steve Brooker, Alex Russell and Richard Keogh, as well as free agent defender Alan Wright. Cheltenham avoided relegation on the last day of the 2007–08 season with a 2–1 victory over Doncaster Rovers at Whaddon Road.{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Jon |title=Keith Downing on Cheltenham, West Brom and England |url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/keith-downing-keeping-cheltenham-town-1620427 |access-date=14 June 2019 |work=gloucestershirelive |date=29 May 2018}} However, they struggled after striker Steven Gillespie was sold to Colchester United for £400,000. Downing left the club by mutual consent on 13 September 2008 with the "Robins" bottom of League One.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cheltenham_town/7614259.stm|title=Manager Downing leaves Cheltenham |date=13 September 2008|work=BBC Sport|access-date=27 February 2009}}
=Coaching spell=
In February 2009, he was appointed assistant manager at League Two side Port Vale.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/7914166.stm|title=Downing will replace Brightwell |date=27 February 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=27 February 2009}} This was a temporary appointment to help manager Dean Glover, and both men left the club in May 2009.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/8031361.stm|title=Downing expecting to leave Vale|date=3 May 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=3 May 2009}} In July 2009, Downing was appointed the academy coach at West Bromwich Albion.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/8144041.stm|title=Downing handed Baggies youth role|date=10 July 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=11 July 2009}} He served as joint-assistant head coach for the "Baggies" under Steve Clarke and in December 2013 temporarily took over first-team duties at the Premier League club after Clarke was sacked and before Pepe Mel was appointed as manager early the following month.{{cite news|title=Steve Clarke sacked as West Brom head coach|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25385000|access-date=17 December 2013|publisher=BBC Sport|date=14 December 2013}} He was not a popular figure with fans at The Hawthorns due to his years of service at Black Country derby rivals Wolves.{{cite news|last1=Howell|first1=Bill|title=West Bromwich Albion: Under fire coaching duo Rob Kelly and Keith Downing placed in caretaker charge|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/west-bromwich-albion-under-fire-8359432|access-date=20 June 2015|work=Birmingham Mail|date=30 December 2014}} However, his UEFA Pro Licence and popularity with the players made him a serious candidate to replace Mel in the summer.{{cite news|title=Keith Downing backed for West Brom job|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/west-bromwich-albion-fc/2014/05/14/keith-downing-backed-for-west-brom-job/|access-date=20 June 2015|work=Express & Star|date=14 May 2014}} Alan Irvine got the job however, and Downing left the club in January 2015 following a backroom reshuffle by new boss Tony Pulis.{{cite news|title=West Brom: Rob Kelly, Keith Downing and Dean Kiely depart|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30687215|access-date=20 June 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=5 January 2015}}
=England youth=
Downing was appointed head coach of the England U20 team in July 2015, initially on an interim basis.{{cite news|title=Keith Downing appointed England under-20s boss|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/2015/07/28/keith-downing-appointed-england-under-20s-boss/|access-date=22 July 2017|work=Express and Star|date=28 July 2015|language=en}} His appointed was made permanent in February 2016.{{cite news|title=Keith Downing named England U20 coach on permanent basis|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11698/10162427/keith-downing-announced-england-u20-head-coach|access-date=22 July 2017|work=Sky Sports|date=10 February 2016|language=en}} He changed roles to become head coach of the England U19 team in August 2016.{{cite news|title=Keith Downing: England U19s 'have a definite focus'|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2016/aug/29/keith-downing-netherlands-preview-310816|access-date=22 July 2017|work=thefa.com|date=30 August 2016|language=en}} He led the under-19s to victory in the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with a 2–1 victory over Portugal.{{cite news|title=Under-19 2017 - Portugal-England – UEFA.com|url=https://www.uefa.com/under19/match/2022852--portugal-vs-england/|access-date=22 July 2017|work=UEFA|date=15 July 2017|language=en}} He was a part of Gareth Southgate's scouting team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Downing left his post in August 2020 to join Championship club Bristol City as an assistant head coach to Dean Holden.{{cite news |last1=Association |first1=The Football |title=Young Lions coaches Paul Simpson and Keith Downing leave to join Bristol City |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2020/aug/10/england-development-coaches-paul-simpson-and-keith-downing-leave-fa-for-bristol-city-100820 |access-date=10 August 2020 |work=www.thefa.com |date=10 August 2020 |language=en}}
=EFL coach=
Downing left Bristol City in October 2021.{{cite news |title=Downing leaves City |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/downing-leaves-city/ |access-date=31 October 2021 |work=Bristol City |date=27 October 2021 |language=en}} He was appointed as first-team head coach at Plymouth Argyle in December 2021, working under manager Steven Schumacher, who clarified that "Keith has come in as my No 2, if you like".{{cite news |last1=Errington |first1=Chris |title=Argyle appoint Keith Downing as first team head coach |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-add-former-england-6394845 |access-date=23 December 2021 |work=PlymouthLive |date=23 December 2021 |language=en}} Downing left the club at the end of the 2021–22 season, much to director of football Neil Dewsnip's disappointment.{{cite news |title=Downing departs |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/downing-departs |access-date=15 May 2022 |work=Plymouth Argyle |date=14 May 2022 |language=en}} In July 2022, Downing returned to Birmingham City as one of two assistants to newly appointed head coach John Eustace.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-eustace-taylor-downing-24396860 |title=Confirmed: John Eustace names his Birmingham City back-room staff |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=4 July 2022 |access-date=4 July 2022}} He left the club on 10 October 2023 after Eustace's dismissal.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/matt-gardiner-and-keith-downing-leave-blues |title=Matt Gardiner and Keith Downing leave Blues |website=Birmingham City F.C. |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=10 October 2023}}
In February 2024, he reunited with Eustace again when appointed as an assistant coach alongside Matt Gardiner at Blackburn Rovers.{{cite news |title=Keith Downing joins Rovers staff |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/february/24/keith-downing-joins-rovers-staff/ |access-date=25 February 2024 |work=Blackburn Rovers FC |date=24 February 2024}} Eustace changed jobs to manage Derby County 12 months later and Downing followed him to Pride Park Stadium to become a first-team coach.{{cite news |title=COACHING STAFF: Matt Gardiner and Keith Downing in profile |url=https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2025/02/coaching-staff-matt-gardiner-and-keith-downing-in-profile |access-date=13 February 2025 |work=Derby County FC |date=13 February 2025 |language=en}}
Personal life
Downing married in 1993 and has two sons from that marriage.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} He is a cousin of Judas Priest guitarist K. K. Downing.{{cite news |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/west-bromwich-albion-fc/2013/12/20/keith-downing-tipped-to-succeed-at-west-brom-by-music-star-cousin/ |title=Keith Downing tipped to succeed at West Brom by music star cousin |newspaper=Express & Star |location=Wolverhampton |date=20 December 2013 |access-date=24 October 2016}} His nephew, Paul Downing, also played professional football. He has an interest in criminology and history, specifically the history of World War II.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/realmedia/2009/04/downing_pp_100409.ram|title=Keith Downing profile|date=April 2009|work=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire|access-date=17 April 2009}}
Career statistics
=Playing=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{cite web |url=https://www.enfa.co.uk/playersearch.php |title=Player search: Downing, KG (Keith) |website=English National Football Archive |access-date=23 January 2023 |url-access=subscription}} | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Notts County
|12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 0 | ||
| 1985–86
|3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1986–87
|Third Division |8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| rowspan="7"|Wolverhampton Wanderers
|34 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6{{efn|name=AMC|Appearances in Associate Members' Cup/Football League Trophy}} | 1 | 46 | 3 | |
| 1988–89
|Third Division |32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6{{efn|name=AMC}} | 0 | 39 | 1 | |
| 1989–90
|Second Division |31 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=FMC|Appearance(s) in Full Members' Cup}} | 0 | 36 | 3 | |
| 1990–91
|Second Division |31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=FMC}} | 0 | 35 | 1 | |
| 1991–92
|Second Division |32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=FMC}} | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| 1992–93
|31 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=AIC|Appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup}} | 0 | 37 | 3 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!191 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 228 | 11 | |
| Birmingham City
|First Division |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Stoke City
|First Division |16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5{{efn|name=AIC}} | 1 | 24 | 1 | |
| Cardiff City
|Third Division |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Hereford United
|Third Division |29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|name=AMC}} | 0 | 36 | 0 | ||
| 1996–97
|Third Division |16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!45 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 55 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!280 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 337 | 13 |
{{notelist}}
=Managerial=
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure | ||||
| rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From !rowspan=2|To !colspan=5|Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|P|Matches played}} | {{abbr|W|Matches won}} | {{abbr|D|Matches drawn}} | {{abbr|L|Matches lost}} | {{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}} |
| align=left|Cheltenham Town
|align=left|26 September 2007 |align=left|5 November 2008 {{WDL|50|14|12|24|decimals=1}} | ||||
| align=left|West Bromwich Albion (caretaker)
|align=left|14 December 2013 |align=left|9 January 2014 {{WDL|6|1|2|3|decimals=1}} | ||||
| colspan=3|Total{{Soccerbase manager|2090|Keith Downing}}
{{WDLtot|56|15|14|27|decimals=1}} |
Honours
=as a Player=
Wolverhampton Wanderers
=as a Manager=
England U19
References
{{reflist}}
{{Cheltenham Town F.C. managers}}
{{West Bromwich Albion F.C. managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Downing, Keith}}
Category:Footballers from Oldbury, West Midlands
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Mile Oak Rovers & Youth F.C. players
Category:Notts County F.C. players
Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:Stoke City F.C. players
Category:Cardiff City F.C. players
Category:Hereford United F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Cheltenham Town F.C. non-playing staff
Category:English football managers
Category:English football coaches
Category:Cheltenham Town F.C. managers
Category:Port Vale F.C. non-playing staff
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Bristol City F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Plymouth Argyle F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Birmingham City F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Derby County F.C. non-playing staff