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Paul Williams (footballer, born 1971)

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For other people named Paul Williams, see Paul Williams (disambiguation).

Paul Darren Williams (born 26 March 1971) is an English professional football coach and former player who was until August 2022 academy director at Birmingham City.

Paul Williams
Personal information
Full name Paul Darren Williams[1]
Date of birth (1971-03-26) 26 March 1971 (age 53)
Place of birth Burton upon Trent, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Centre back, midfielder
Youth career
Derby County
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1995 Derby County 160 (26)
1989 → Lincoln City (loan) 3 (0)
1995–2001 Coventry City 169 (5)
2001 → Southampton (loan) 1 (0)
2001–2003 Southampton 39 (0)
2003–2005 Stoke City 19 (0)
2005 Richmond Kickers 5 (0)
Total 395 (31)
International career
1991 England U21 6 (0)
Managerial career
2006–2007 Fredericksburg Gunners
2016 Nottingham Forest (caretaker)
2016 England U20 (caretaker)
2021 England U18
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

As a player, he was a centre back and midfielder from 1989 until 2005, playing domestically for Derby County, Lincoln City, Coventry City, Southampton and Stoke City and in the USL A-League for Richmond Kickers.

Upon his retirement he moved into coaching, working in the academies at Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Norwich City, Birmingham City and with the England youth teams. He served Nottingham Forest as caretaker manager late in the 2015–16 season. He has also managed Fredericksburg Gunners and has worked on the coaching staff of Swansea City, Brentford, Aldershot Town and Sheffield Wednesday.

Club career

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Derby County

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Born in Burton upon Trent, Williams began his career as a forward with First Division club Derby County and after moving back into midfield he made his debut during the 1989–90 season,[2][3] making 10 appearances and scoring his first goal for the club.[4] By 1991, Derby had been relegated to the Second Division and Williams stepped up to score league 13 goals during the 1991–92 season,[4] including a memorable hattrick in a 3–1 victory over Watford on 29 February 1992.[2] His goals helped the Rams to a place in the playoffs, but the club's season ended after defeat to Blackburn Rovers in the semi-finals.[3]

By 1993, Williams had been converted into a central defender and he helped the team to 1994 First Division playoff Final,[3] but Derby were denied a place in the Premier League by Leicester City and he found himself partly at fault for one of the Foxes' goals.[5] He remained at the Baseball Ground until the end of the 1994–95 season,[6] when a 9th-place finish saw Derby fail to qualify for the playoffs.[7] Williams made 195 appearances and scored 33 goals during six seasons with the Rams.[6]

Lincoln City (loan)

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Williams joined Fourth Division club Lincoln City on loan on 9 November 1989 and made the first professional appearances of his career in a six-match spell at Sincil Bank.[6]

Coventry City

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Williams moved up to the Premier League to sign with Coventry City in August 1995 for a £750,000 fee.[6] He was the Highfield Road club's Player of the Year in his debut season and remained at the club for a further five years before being released in September 2001.[8][9] Williams made 199 appearances and scored six goals for Coventry City,[6] including the winner in a 2–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the 1996–97 season,[10] which preserved the Sky Blues' Premier League status.[11]

Southampton

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Williams reunited with his former Coventry City manager Gordon Strachan at Premier League club Southampton on 26 October 2001, signing on a short-term loan with a view to a permanent move.[12] He made his debut the following day as a first half substitute for Claus Lundekvam during a 2–1 defeat to Fulham.[13] After signing on a permanent deal the following week,[14] Williams was a near ever-present during the remainder of the 2001–02 season, making 30 appearances.[13] Injuries disrupted Williams' 2002–03 season,[15] which proved to be a memorable campaign for the Saints, reaching the 2003 FA Cup Final (qualifying for the UEFA Cup) and finishing 8th in the Premier League.[16] Williams' final involvement with the first team was as an unused substitute during the Cup Final, which was lost 1–0 to Arsenal.[17] Williams was released in June 2003, after making 43 appearances during two seasons at St Mary's.[6]

Stoke City

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After angering Walsall manager Colin Lee by reneging on a deal in principle to join the First Division club for the 2003–04 season,[18] Williams joined rivals Stoke City on 18 August 2003.[19] He made 20 appearances during the 2003–04 season and injuries reduced his appearances to none in 2004–05,[20][21][22] which led to his release on 1 February 2005.[23]

Later years

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In April 2005, Williams joined United Soccer League Division One club Richmond Kickers,[22] where he made five appearances in a short spell.[24] In October 2006, it was announced that Williams had joined Midland Alliance club Rocester,[25] but the deal collapsed.[26]

International career

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Williams won six caps for the England U21 team in 1991.[27] He made three appearances at the 1991 Toulon Tournament, started in a 2–1 friendly victory over Germany and played in two 1992 European U21 Championship qualifiers.[27]

Managerial and coaching career

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Williams was announced as head coach of USL Premier Development League expansion club Fredericksburg Gunners in December 2006.[28] He was replaced by Cristian Neagu in February 2007, before the 2007 season began.[29]

Williams served as a youth development coach at Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers between 2006 and 2008.[30]

On 14 October 2009, Williams was installed as assistant to caretaker manager and former Southampton teammate Jason Dodd at League Two club Aldershot Town.[31] The pair presided over four matches and departed after a 2–0 FA Cup second round victory over Bury on 7 November.[32]

Williams re-joined former club Southampton as a part-time youth coach at the club's academy in 2009 and was promoted to the full-time role of Youth Development Coach in July 2011.[33] He managed the U13 team, served as assistant to U18 manager Jason Dodd and coached specialist sessions for teams between U14 and U18 level.[33] Dodd and Williams were dismissed from their roles on 20 May 2014.[34] Dodd and Williams presided over a productive era for the Saints academy,[34] with future England 2014 World Cup squad member Luke Shaw and Premier League starters Calum Chambers, James Ward-Prowse, Harrison Reed, and Sam Gallagher graduating.[35]

Williams was first team coach at Hampshire Premier League club Team Solent during the 2010–11 season.[3]

Williams was announced as assistant manager/first team coach under Ian Baird at Conference South club Eastleigh on 2 June 2011.[36] On 1 July, it was announced that Williams had left the club.[37]

Williams linked up with Jason Dodd as part of the backroom team at Conference South club Gosport Borough in January 2015.[38] He left the club at the end of the 2014–15 season.

In July 2015, Williams joined Championship club Brentford as logistics manager and became assistant to new head coach and former Derby County and Coventry City teammate Lee Carsley on 28 September.[39][40] After the appointment of Dean Smith as the Bees' new head coach two months later, Williams was replaced as assistant by Richard O'Kelly and reverted to a coaching role with the Development Squad.[41] He left the club in December 2015.[41]

On 28 July 2015, Williams was announced as an assistant coach with the England U15 and U16 teams.[42] He later became assistant to England U20 manager Aidy Boothroyd early in the 2016–17 season and took over as interim manager of the team in September 2016.[43] He managed the U20s to victory in the 2016 Four Nations tournament and to a runners-up finish in the 2016 Continental Cup and left the role in mid-November 2016.[44][45][46] Williams was appointed temporary U18 head coach for a training camp and friendly match versus Wales U18 in September 2021.[47]

On 17 December 2015, Williams was named first team coach at Championship club Nottingham Forest.[48] On 13 March 2016, he was named manager until the end of the 2015–16 season, following the termination of Dougie Freedman's contract on the same day.[49] Williams took charge of his first game two days later, a 1–1 draw away to Hull City.[50] He guided the club to a 16th-place finish and departed the City Ground on 12 May 2016.[51][52]

Williams joined Premier League club Swansea City as assistant to manager Bob Bradley on 16 November 2016.[46] Following Bradley's sacking and the appointment of Paul Clement as manager on 3 January 2017, Williams was placed on gardening leave.[53]

On 18 September 2017, Williams joined Championship club Birmingham City as assistant first team coach.[54] With the club in the relegation zone, he left the club when manager Steve Cotterill was sacked in March 2018.[55]

Between July 2018 and August 2019, Williams served as assistant to Guyana head coach Michael Johnson.[56] The pair qualified the team for its first-ever CONCACAF Gold Cup.[56]

Between September 2018 and January 2019,[57] Williams served Championship club West Bromwich Albion as an opposition scout.[58] On 21 January 2019, Williams was appointed head coach of Championship club Norwich City's U18 team.[58] He departed the role for personal reasons in February 2020.[59] In February 2020, Williams joined Phoenix Sport & Media and took a consultancy role "to help educate and guide players to deal with off-pitch matters including mental health and financial education".[60]

On 1 March 2021, Williams joined Championship club Sheffield Wednesday as first team coach under new manager Darren Moore.[61] He left the club for personal reasons on 20 July 2021.[62] He spent the 2021–22 season as Birmingham City's academy director.[63]

On 23 August 2024, Williams joined Ben Futcher's interim backroom staff with the England U21s.[64]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Derby County 1989–90[4] First Division 10 1 — 0 0 0 0 10 1
1990–91[4] 19 4 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 21 4
1991–92[4] Second Division 41 13 3 2 3 1 3[b] 0 50 16
1992–93[4] First Division 19 4 3 1 0 0 5[c] 1 27 6
1993–94[4] 34 1 1 0 3 0 4[d] 0 42 1
1994–95[65] 37 3 1 0 4 1 2[c] 1 44 5
Total 160 26 8 3 11 2 15 2 194 33
Lincoln City (loan) 1989–90[6] Fourth Division 3 0 2 0 — 1[e] 0 6 0
Coventry City 1995–96[66] Premier League 32 2 1 0 4 1 — 37 2
1996–97[10] 32 2 4 0 2 0 — 38 2
1997–98[67] 20 0 1 0 4 0 — 25 0
1998–99[68] 22 0 2 0 2 0 — 26 0
1999–00[69] 28 1 3 0 1 0 — 32 1
2000–01[70] 30 0 2 0 4 0 — 36 0
2001–02[13] First Division 5 0 — 0 0 — 5 0
Total 169 5 13 0 17 0 — 199 5
Southampton 2001–02[13] Premier League 28 0 1 0 1 0 — 30 0
2002–03[71] 11 0 1 0 0 0 — 12 0
Total 39 0 2 0 1 0 — 42 0
Stoke City 2003–04[20] First Division 19 0 0 0 1 0 — 20 0
2004–05[72] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 19 0 0 0 1 0 — 20 0
Richmond Kickers 2005[24] USL First Division 5 0 — — — 5 0
Career Total 395 31 25 3 30 3 16 2 466 39
  1. ^ Appearance in Full Members Cup
  2. ^ 2 appearances in Football League playoffs, 1 appearance in Full Members Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup
  4. ^ 3 appearances in Football League playoffs, 1 appearance in Anglo-Italian Cup
  5. ^ Appearance in Football League Trophy

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 12 November 2016
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
P W D L Win %
Nottingham Forest (caretaker) 13 March 2016 12 May 2016 10 2 4 4 020.0 [73]
England U20 (caretaker) September 2016 November 2016 6 5 0 1 083.3 [74]
Total 16 7 4 5 043.8 —

Honours

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Manager

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England U20

  • Four Nations Tournament: 2016[44]

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ "Paul Williams". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  2. ^ a b Johnson, Robin. "Derby County: Brentford visit brings back memories of Paul Williams for Robin Johnson". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 December 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d "Paul Williams". www.thesaintshub.com. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Paul D Williams". 11v11.com. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  5. ^ "Football / Play-Offs: Leicester ride their luck into Premiership". The Independent. 30 May 1994. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Paul Williams at Soccerbase
  7. ^ Derby County F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  8. ^ a b "Premier League | Coventry City Player of the Year". My Football Facts & Stats. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Williams' way out". BBC. 28 September 2001. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Games played by Paul Williams in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Coventry perform escape act once again". The Independent. 12 May 1997. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Strachan makes first Saints signing". The Guardian. 26 October 2001. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  13. ^ a b c d "Games played by Paul Williams in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  14. ^ "Saints target Bart-Williams". BBC. 5 May 2001. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  15. ^ "Paul Williams – League Appearances". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  16. ^ Southampton F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  17. ^ "Arsenal retain FA Cup". BBC. 17 May 2003. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  18. ^ "Williams upsets Lee". BBC Sport. 20 August 2003. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  19. ^ "Potters grab Williams". BBC Sport. 18 August 2003. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  20. ^ a b "Games played by Paul Williams in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  21. ^ "Paul Williams Player Profile". ESPN FC. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  22. ^ a b "Kickers Sign Former English Premiership Player". richmondkickers.com. 14 April 2005. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  23. ^ "February 2005". ESPNFC.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  24. ^ a b "Paul Williams". SoccerStats.us. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  25. ^ "Williams signs for Romans". Burton Mail. 10 October 2006. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  26. ^ "Romans wait on star duo". Uttoxeter Advertiser. 25 October 2006. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  27. ^ a b "England Matches – Under-21s 1990–2000". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  28. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". sylsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  29. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". www.wleaguesoccer.com. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  30. ^ "Ex-Southampton coach who nurtured Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers linked to Yeovil Town job". Western Gazette. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  31. ^ "Caretaker manager announcement". Aldershot Town F.C. Official Website. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  32. ^ "Aldershot Town 2–0 Bury". BBC. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  33. ^ a b "Paul Williams appointed". Southampton F.C. Official Website. 6 July 2011. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  34. ^ a b Hytner, David (20 May 2014). "Luke Shaw 'gutted' after Southampton sack Academy coaches". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  35. ^ Williams, Marc (20 May 2014). "Southampton fire academy coaches Jason Dodd and Paul Williams for not spending enough time with their youth players". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  36. ^ "Paul Williams appointed as new Assistant Manager". www.eastleighnews.co.uk. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  37. ^ "Braybrook is new Eastleigh coach". Daily Echo. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  38. ^ "Dodd plays down Boro role". Daily Echo. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  39. ^ Wickham, Chris. "Brentford Football Club football staff update". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  40. ^ "Brentford FC statement on Head Coach: Marinus Dijkhuizen leaves Brentford Football Club". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  41. ^ a b "Paul Williams leaves Brentford to take up Nottingham Forest coaching role". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  42. ^ "The FA have appointed four interim national coaches to support England's development teams – England". The Football Association. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  43. ^ "U20s coach Paul Williams looks forward to mini tournament". The Football Association. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  44. ^ a b "England Under-20s win mini-tournament after 2–0 win over USA". The Football Association. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  45. ^ "Paul Williams' Young Lions end Continental Cup with victory over U20 World Cup rivals". The Football Association. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  46. ^ a b "England Under-20s coach Paul Williams confirmed as Swansea City assistant manager". Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  47. ^ "England youth coaches confirmed". 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  48. ^ "Williams joins Forest coaching staff". BBC. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  49. ^ "Dougie Freedman: Nottingham Forest manager sacked". BBC Sport. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  50. ^ "Hull City 1–1 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  51. ^ "Nottingham Forest League Table 2015-2016". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  52. ^ "Nottingham Forest, First-Team Coach, Paul Williams, The City Ground". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  53. ^ Gwilym, Andrew (3 March 2017). "Paul Williams is in limbo at Swansea City". walesonline. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  54. ^ "Paul Williams". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  55. ^ "Steve Cotterill – Birmingham City statement". Birmingham City F.C. 3 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  56. ^ a b "Paul Williams interview: Black coaches have qualifications but need opportunities too". Sky Sports. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  57. ^ Wilson, Matt. "West Brom employ Paul Williams as opposition scout". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  58. ^ a b "Paul Williams named as new Under-18s Head Coach". Norwich City F.C. Official Website. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  59. ^ "Under-18s head coach Paul Williams departs Norwich City". www.canaries.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  60. ^ "PSM welcome Paul Williams to the team". Phoenix Sport & Media Group. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  61. ^ "Duo join Owls backroom staff". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  62. ^ "Moore confirms Williams departure". www.swfc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  63. ^ Chapman, Joseph (3 August 2022). "Birmingham City confirm key behind-the-scenes exit and begin search for replacement". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  64. ^ "England men's coaching teams confirmed". England Football. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  65. ^ Sewell, Albert (1995). News Of The World Football Annual 1995–96. Hammersmith, London: Invincible Press. p. 329. ISBN 0855432330.
  66. ^ "Games played by Paul Williams in 1995/1996". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  67. ^ "Games played by Paul Williams in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  68. ^ "Games played by Paul Williams in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  69. ^ "Games played by Paul Williams in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  70. ^ "Games played by Paul Williams in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  71. ^ "Games played by Paul Williams in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  72. ^ "Games played by Paul Williams in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  73. ^ Paul Williams management career statistics at Soccerbase
  74. ^ "England Matches – Under-20's". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
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