Chris Powell

Early career

After leaving Raynes Park High School, Powell spent the 1985–86 season playing for the Epsom & Ewell youth team alongside a young Matt Elliott. He began his professional career in December 1987 as a trainee at Crystal Palace with Ian Wright but failed to become a regular with the first team. He spent time on loan at Aldershot, where he made 11 appearances.

Southend United

In August 1990, Powell moved on a free transfer to Essex club Southend United. In six years at the club Powell made 288 first-team appearances. In November 2004 a BBC poll of Southend United supporters voted Powell their all-time cult hero. One fan described him as "A very skilled, left-footed defender, who could quite possibly be considered one of the nicest men in football, a true gent."

Derby County

In January 1996 Powell moved to Derby County for a fee of £750,000. He made 99 first-team appearances before being transferred to Charlton Athletic in June 1998 for a fee of £825,000. Powell was a favourite of the Derby fans, and won the Supporters' Player of the Year award for the 1996–97 season. He scored twice during his spell at Derby, with both goals coming in the 1997–98 season: against Everton in the league and Southampton in the FA Cup.

Charlton Athletic

While at Charlton, he made 200 first-team appearances, and evidently caught the eye of Sven-Göran Eriksson, who picked him for the England team in 2001, at the unusually late age of 31. He was the…

Powell was called-up for England in 2001 under Sven-Göran Eriksson, earning his first cap against Spain. Powell earned five caps in total.

Leicester City

Having served as a player coach under Nigel Pearson, Powell was retained by incoming Leicester City manager Paulo Sousa in the summer of 2010. In October, Powell was named caretaker manager with Mike Stowell of the Foxes after Sousa was sacked. Their first, and only, game in charge came against Scunthorpe United; Leicester won the game 3–1. He remained a coach at the club after Sousa's replacement, Sven-Göran Eriksson, was appointed. Eriksson—who selected Powell for his England caps—commented in December 2010 that Powell "will be a very good manager in the future".

Charlton Athletic

On 14 January 2011, Powell was appointed manager of Charlton Athletic, who were by now languishing in League One. He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract following the sacking of Phil Parkinson. His first signing of his managerial career was Bradley Wright-Phillips, who went on to score on his debut on 1 February 2011, against Colchester United. Powell won his opening four games at Charlton, but then went 11 games without a win, falling out of the play-off places and leaving the Addicks in 13th place at the end of the season. Powell signed 19 new players in summer 2011, including midfielders Danny Green, Danny Hollands, Dale Stephens, defenders Matt Taylor, Rhoys Wiggins and goalkeeper Ben Hamer. Bradley Pritchard was signed from non-league club Hayes & Yeading United and excelled in midfield, with Yann Kermorgant forming a formidable strike partnership…

Powell is a Christian. He is an ambassador for numerous charities and organizations. Since 2020, Powell has appeared alongside Arlo White as a co-commentator in the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso in all three seasons. Powell was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 Birthday Honours "for services to association football".