Steve_Davis_(footballer,_born_1965)

Steve Davis (footballer, born 1965)

Steve Davis (footballer, born 1965)

English footballer and manager

Steven Peter Davis (born 26 July 1965) is an English football manager and former professional footballer who is currently a trainer scout for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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As a defender, he played over 100 league games at each of three clubs: Crewe Alexandra, Burnley and Barnsley. After managing Cheshire-based non-league teams Northwich Victoria and Nantwich Town, he was appointed assistant manager at Crewe Alexandra in 2009. Two years later, in November 2011, he was appointed Crewe manager, winning a Wembley play-off final in 2012 and the EFL Trophy in 2013. He left Crewe in January 2017 (at which date he was the fourth longest serving manager in the top four divisions of English football) and then head coach at National League club Leyton Orient for just over four months to November 2017. He later joined Wolves as under-18s coach. In October 2022 he became interim manager of Wolves' first team ahead of Julen Lopetegui taking charge from 14 November 2022.

Club career

Born in Birmingham, Davis started his career with Stoke City as an apprentice[1] in 1982 but never made a senior appearance. However, he played more than 140 matches for both Crewe Alexandra and Burnley, making his Crewe debut at the age of 18, and captaining the team aged 19. He was also a key figure in the time he was at Burnley. He then played over 100 matches for Barnsley in Division 1, including 24 appearances in the season in which they were promoted to the Premier League.[2] He had loan spells at York City and Oxford United, eventually being signed by Division 1 outfit, Oxford United in 1998.

The final years of his playing career saw him in Cheshire with Macclesfield Town, and with Northwich Victoria and Nantwich Town – where he was player-manager of both clubs.

International career

Davis was capped by the England national youth team.[1]

Management career

Northwich Victoria

He was appointed as player-manager of Northwich Victoria in June 2003.[3] He resigned in September 2003, after the team were second bottom of the Conference National in the 2003–04 season.[4]

Nantwich Town

However, his managerial career at Nantwich Town was the most successful time in the club's long history, converting a club that had never achieved anything above the North West Counties League to one that was challenging for a Conference spot. He led Nantwich to two promotions in successive seasons[5] and a FA Vase victory, just missing out on promotion to the Conference North at the end of the 2008–09 season. His abilities attracted the attention of Crewe Alexandra, where he had spent four seasons as a player. On 17 May 2009, it was announced that he would become assistant manager to Gudjon Thordarson at Crewe.[6]

Crewe Alexandra

Davis remained as Thordarson's assistant through the Icelandic's short lived tenure at Gresty Road before the former Stoke City manager was relieved of his role in October 2009. Taking up the vacant manager's role was Dario Gradi, now in his third stint as Crewe manager kept Davis as his assistant manager. Gradi remained in the managerial position at the club until the autumn of 2011 his position was starting to become questioned by the Crewe fans, this was only galvanised further by a 3–0 home defeat to Torquay United which left the club near the relegation zone.[7] Although Gradi was still manager of the club, Davis took charge of the next match against Oldham Athletic in the Football League Trophy after the Crewe manager could not attend after feeling unwell.[8] Although Crewe lost the match 3–1, Davis was appointed the new Crewe manager a couple of days later with Gradi moving to his former role as Technical Director – a role he took following the appointment of Steve Holland as first team coach back in the summer of 2007.[9][10]

Promoting coach Neil Baker as his assistant manager,[11] Davis' first match, officially, as Crewe manager was a home FA Cup tie to Colchester United. Although the railwaymen lost the tie 4–1,[12] Davis' brief for the remainder season was specific: keep Crewe in the football league.[11] Davis was successful in his target keeping Crewe in the football league and, in a run that saw the club go 16 matches unbeaten, the English manager helped Crewe qualify for the League Two play-offs. Following a 3–2 win over two legs with Southend United and a 2–0 win over Cheltenham Town at Wembley, Davis' team were promoted to League One.[13]

Davis had lost two key figures in that season's promotion campaign in the summer with Nick Powell completing a three million pound transfer to Manchester United and captain Ashley Westwood for an undisclosed fee to Aston Villa but they were replaced by a number of summer signings such as forward Mathias Pogba, defender Mark Ellis and midfielder Abdul Osman. Davis successfully secured safety in League One in his first season and also guided his team to a second Wembley appearance this time in the final of the Football League Trophy against Southend. The Railwaymen won the tie 2–0 with goals from Luke Murphy and Max Clayton.[14]

As with the previous summer, Davis lost a key member of his midfield this time in the form of Luke Murphy who left the club for Championship club Leeds United in 2013 for a million pounds. Despite a brief period linking him with the vacant Wolves managerial position,[15] Davis remained at the Alex. The 2013–14 season was less successful than Davis' previous seasons, compacted even more after seven first team players were held by Devon and Cornwall Police for an alleged sexual assault during the team's pre-season training in Redruth.[16] The players were cleared of all charges in November,[17] a few months into the new campaign. Davis described the decision as a "noose being removed from our necks" citing the case as one of the reasons for the team's poor start to the campaign.[18] Further to the sex assault allegations, Davis was also having attitude issues with summer signing Anthony Grant and former Newcastle youngster Brad Inman – listing the pair on loan and isolating them from the rest of the squad in training labelling the pair as a "disruption."[19][20] The pair were later reinstated to the squad and first team duties following an improvement in their attitudes and helped Crewe avoid relegation on the last day of the season with a 2–1 victory over local rivals Preston North End.

The 2014–15 season was no better in terms of Crewe's performance. The team lost 10 of their first 12 matches, and eventually finished in 20th position – remaining in League One despite losing the final match of the season, against Bradford City, because of results in fixtures elsewhere.

The following season started in a similar pattern, with the team winning just two of their first 15 league matches, and crashing out of the FA Cup in the first round, defeated at Gresty Road by non-league Eastleigh,[21] forcing Davis to defend his position as the 'right man' for the job.[22] Crewe's relegation to League Two was confirmed following a 3–0 defeat at Port Vale on 9 April 2016, with five matches remaining.[23]

Davis was sacked as Crewe Alexandra manager on 8 January 2017,[24] at which date he was the fourth longest serving manager in the top four divisions of English football.[25]

Leyton Orient

On 10 July 2017, Davis was appointed as head coach of newly relegated National League club Leyton Orient on a two-year contract.[26] After the club won just five of their 19 league matches, he was sacked on 14 November 2017.[27]

In September 2018, Davis was reported to be in the running to be appointed manager of Cheltenham Town.[28]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

He subsequently joined Wolverhampton Wanderers as under-18s head coach.[29] In October 2022, following the sacking of Bruno Lage, Davis was appointed interim manager of his boyhood club, with under-23s coach James Collins, also formerly at Crewe, as his assistant.[30] His first game in charge was a 3–0 defeat at Chelsea.[31] His first win was a 1–0 victory at Molineux against Nottingham Forest.[32] After multiple failed attempts by the club to sign a permanent manager, it was initially announced Davis would remain in charge for the rest of 2022.[33][34] However, Wolves re-approached Julen Lopetegui and, on 5 November 2022, announced he would become their new head coach, taking charge from 14 November 2022.[35]

After the success for the under-18s squad, and brief caretaker stint for Wolves' first team, the club appointed Davis as Player Pathways Manager to help link the academy players with the first team players. This had proven successful during his time as caretaker manager, with Joe Hodge, Hugo Bueno and Dexter Lembikisa given more first team experience and regular game time. Davis's former assistant manager at under-18s level, James McPike took over as caretaker manager, until a permanent replacement was found.[36]

Personal life

Davis's son Harry was at Crewe Alexandra but now plays for AFC Fylde, and is also a centre-back. He made his professional debut at the end of the 2009–10 season, playing for Crewe against Bradford City.[37]

Another son, Joe, is a former defender, having made his professional debut at Port Vale during his first spell in April 2011.[38] During Steve Davis's time as Crewe manager, for 33 minutes of a match at Port Vale on 22 February 2014, his sons played on opposite teams against each other.[39][40] Joe later played at Nantwich Town before retiring.

Career statistics

Source:[41]

More information Club, Season ...

Managerial statistics

As of match played 12 November 2022
More information Team, From ...

Honours

Player

Barnsley

Individual

Manager

Nantwich Town

Crewe Alexandra

References

Footnotes

  1. [1]
    Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2000). The 2000–2001 Official PFA Footballers Factfile. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-85291-626-8.
  2. [2]
    "Games played by Steve Davis in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  3. [3]
    Oliver, Pete (16 June 2003). "Davis relishing Vics challenge". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 March 2008.
  4. [4]
    "Davis resigns at Northwich". BBC Sport. 29 September 2003. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  5. [5]
    CHATWIN, MICHAEL. (2020). ULTIMATE BOOK OF NANTWICH TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB. [S.l.]: EMPIRE. ISBN 978-0-9563068-2-1. OCLC 1199329275.
  6. [6]
    "Davis Becomes Alex Assistant". Crewe Chronicle. 17 June 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  7. [7]
    Hornbrook (2014), p. 22
  8. [8]
    Hornbrook (2014), p. 23
  9. [9]
    "Dario Gradi steps down as Crewe Alexandra manager". BBC Sport. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  10. [10]
    "Davis To Take Over As First Team Manager". Crewe Alexandra F.C. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  11. [11]
    Hornbrook (2014), p. 30
  12. [12]
    "Crewe 1–4 Colchester". BBC Sport. 12 November 2011.
  13. [13]
    Begley, Emlyn (27 May 2012). "Cheltenham 0–2 Crewe". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  14. [14]
    Osborne, Chris (7 April 2013). "Crewe 2–0 Southend". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  15. [15]
    "Steve Davis: Crewe boss favourite for Wolves job". BBC Sport. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  16. [16]
    "Seven Crewe Alexandra footballers held over sex attack claims". BBC News. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  17. [17]
    "No charge for Crewe Alexandra rape suspect footballers". BBC News. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  18. [18]
    Ryan, Belinda. "Alex boss speaks out after rape allegation against players is dismissed". Crewe Chronicle. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  19. [19]
    "Brad Inman and Anthony Grant available for loan". BBC Sport. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  20. [20]
    Morse, Peter (23 November 2013). "Grant and Inman labelled a 'disruption'". Crewe Chronicle. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  21. [21]
    Crewe 0–1 Eastleigh, BBC Sport, 7 November 2015. Retrieved: 12 November 2015.
  22. [22]
    "Steve Davis: Crewe boss insists he is 'right man' for the job". BBC Sport. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  23. [23]
    "Port Vale 3-0 Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  24. [24]
    "Club Part Company With Steve Davis" (Press release). Crewe Alexandra F.C. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  25. [25]
    "Crewe Alexandra: David Artell named manager after sacking of Steve Davis". BBC Sport. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  26. [26]
    "Leyton Orient: Steve Davis named new head coach on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  27. [27]
    "Steve Davis: Leyton Orient sack head coach with club 19th in National League". BBC Sport. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  28. [28]
    Palmer, Jon (2 September 2018). "Former Crewe Alexandra boss in running for Cheltenham Town manager's job". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  29. [29]
    "Steve Davis: U18 head coach". Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  30. [30]
    Madeley, Steve (8 October 2022). "Steve Davis: From boyhood Wolves fan to their head coach". The Athletic. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  31. [31]
    "Chelsea 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  32. [32]
    "Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  33. [33]
    "Davis to remain in charge until 2023". 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  34. [34]
    "Wolves: Steve Davis to stay in charge after Michael Beale turns down job". BBC Sport. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  35. [35]
    "Julen Lopetegui: Wolves appoint ex-Real Madrid and Sevilla manager". BBC Sport. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  36. [36]
    "Davis appointed as pathways manager". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  37. [37]
    Morse, Peter (12 May 2010). "Crewe Alex: Family ties no issue for debut boy Harry Davis". Crewe Chronicle. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  38. [38]
    "Port Vale: Ede believes potential is there". The Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  39. [39]
    "Port Vale v Crewe: Steve Davis plays down family pride". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  40. [40]
    "Port Vale 1 Crewe Alexandra 3". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  41. [41]
    Steve Davis at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  42. [42]
    "Archived News and Information: 27 May to 6 June, 2003". Altrincham F.C. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  43. [43]
    "Results/matches: 2003/04". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  44. [44]
    "Results/matches: 2011/12". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  45. [45]
    "Managers: Steve Davis". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  46. [46]
    "Interview – Steve Davis". Barnsley FC. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  47. [47]
    Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 148.

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