Mat Sadler

Birmingham City

Sadler was born in Birmingham, West Midlands. He began his career as a junior with Birmingham City. He made his first team debut on 2 October 2002 in a League Cup second round tie away at Leyton Orient, starting in the 3–2 win at Brisbane Road. A month later, he made his Premier League debut in a 3–1 home win over Bolton Wanderers, again as a starter. On 21 November 2003, having not played for Birmingham that season, Sadler went on a two-month loan to Northampton Town, playing eight games, seven of which in the Third Division. In May 2004, signed a new contract to keep him at Birmingham. However, Sadler suffered ankle and foot problems. On 7 February 2006, having not played for Birmingham since 28 December 2002 nor any team since 10 January 2004, Sadler made his return in a 2–1 home win over Reading in an FA Cup fourth round replay, coming on for Mathew Birley after 59 minutes. This was his only appearance until 1 April when he was in the first team to play Chelsea at home, a goalless draw. He stayed in the starting line-up for the remaining games, as the season ended with relegation. At the end of the 2005–06 season, Sadler was awarded the Radio WM Breakthrough Award at the club's annual dinner. He also signed a two–year contract with the club. In the 2006–07 season, Sadler began to be first team regular in the left-back position. However, Sadler suffered a groin injury in training, resulting him missing out for four matches. Sadler then made his…

Sadler played nine times for England under-17, including at the 2002 European Under-17 championships, appeared once for the under-18s, and played four times at under-19 level.

Walsall

On 19 April 2023, Sadler was appointed interim manager of Walsall following the departure of Michael Flynn until the end of the 2022–23 season. On 18 May 2023, he was appointed head coach on a permanent basis. On 7 January 2025, with Walsall sitting top of the league, ten points clear of second place, Sadler signed a new three-and-a-half year contract. Later that week, he was named EFL League Two Manager of the Month for December 2024 having won all six matches across the month. Despite a fifteen-point cushion to third-place as of the end of January 2025, a run of thirteen matches without a win saw the Saddlers fall into the play-off positions on the final day of the season, losing 1–0 to AFC Wimbledon in the 2025 EFL League Two play-off final. Having put the disappointing end to the previous season behind them, an impressive start to the 2025–26 season saw Sadler named Manager of the Month for September 2025 after a run of ten points from four matches seeing the club move top of the league. On 11 March 2026, Sadler was sacked following a run of just one win in eleven matches that left the club 11th in the table, having been four points clear at the top in early December. On 20 July 2026, Sadler was appointed as assistant manager of Belgian Pro League side Lommel, working under compatriot Lee Johnson.

Sadler said in 2012 that when he retired from playing football, he might go back to education to get a degree. He co-founded a property investment company in 2017 while still playing for Shrewsbury Town.