Dean Smith: The man who could lead England to glory

Dean Smith is a name that has been linked with the England manager’s job ever since Gareth Southgate announced his intention to step down after the 2022 World Cup. Smith, who is currently in charge of Leicester City on a short-term basis, has an impressive CV that spans over a decade of managerial experience in the English leagues. But what makes him a suitable candidate for one of the most prestigious and demanding roles in world football?

Smith began his playing career as a defender with Walsall in 1989, where he played 166 league and cup games over the course of five years. He then moved on to Hereford United, Leyton Orient, Sheffield Wednesday and Port Vale, scoring 54 goals in 566 league games in a 16-year career in the Football League. He retired from playing in 2005 and returned to Leyton Orient as assistant manager until 2009. He then became the head of youth at Walsall, before taking over as manager in 2011.

Smith took Walsall from the relegation zone to safety in his first four months in charge, and then established them as a competitive force in League One. He led them to the 2015 final of the Football League Trophy, where they lost to Bristol City, and also reached the play-offs twice, narrowly missing out on promotion to the Championship. He left Walsall in November 2015 to join Brentford, where he continued his reputation for playing attractive and attacking football.

Smith guided Brentford to three consecutive top-ten finishes in the Championship, developing several young talents such as James Tarkowski, Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa along the way. He 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. He also led Villa to the 2020 EFL Cup final, where they lost to Manchester City.

Smith’s tenure at Villa was marked by highs and lows, as he had to deal with injuries, Covid-19 outbreaks and inconsistent form. He managed to keep Villa in the Premier League in their first season back, finishing 17th on the final day. He then oversaw a remarkable improvement in their second season, finishing 11th and challenging for Europe at one point. However, he was sacked by Villa in November 2021 after a run of five consecutive defeats left them 16th in the table.

Smith did not stay out of work for long, as he was hired by Norwich City later that month. He took over a team that was bottom of the Premier League with just two points from their first 11 games. He managed to improve their results slightly, winning four games and drawing three out of his 18 matches in charge. However, he could not prevent Norwich from being relegated to the Championship at the end of the season.

Smith left Norwich by mutual consent in December 2022 and was appointed as Leicester City manager on a short-term deal until the end of the season in April 2023. He replaced Brendan Rodgers, who had left for Tottenham Hotspur after a disappointing campaign that saw Leicester slip into the relegation zone. Smith’s task was to keep Leicester in the Premier League and he achieved that with two games to spare, thanks to a run of four wins and two draws from his first eight matches.

Smith’s success at Leicester has increased his chances of becoming the next England manager, as he has shown his ability to adapt to different situations and get the best out of his players. He has also demonstrated his tactical nous and his preference for playing positive and progressive football. He has worked with several England internationals during his career, such as Jack Grealish, Tyrone Mings, James Maddison and Harvey Barnes, and has a good rapport with them.

Smith’s main strengths as a potential England manager are his man-management skills, his motivational qualities and his experience of working under pressure. He has proven himself at various levels of English football and has earned respect from his peers and pundits alike. He is also a passionate and patriotic Englishman who would relish the opportunity to lead his country.

Smith’s main weaknesses as a potential England manager are his lack of international experience, his limited exposure to European football and his tendency to suffer from poor runs of form. He has never managed outside of England or competed in any continental competitions. He has also had periods where his teams have struggled for results and confidence, which could be costly at international level.