Paul Williams

Derby County

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, making 10 appearances and scoring his first goal for the club. By 1991, Derby had been relegated to the Second Division and Williams stepped up to score league 13 goals during the 1991–92 season, including a memorable hattrick in a 3–1 victory over Watford on 29 February 1992. 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. By 1993, Williams had been converted into a central defender and he helped the team to 1994 First Division playoff Final, 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. He remained at the Baseball Ground until the end of the 1994–95 season, when a 9th-place finish saw Derby fail to qualify for the playoffs. Williams made 195 appearances and scored 33 goals during six seasons with the Rams.

Lincoln City (loan)

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.

Coventry City

Williams moved up to the Premier League to sign with Coventry City in August 1995 for a £750,000 fee. (A different Paul Williams was on Coventry's books the previous…

Williams won six caps for the England U21 team in 1991. 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.

Williams was announced as head coach of USL Premier Development League expansion club Fredericksburg Gunners in December 2006. He was replaced by Cristian Neagu in February 2007, before the 2007 season began. Williams served as a youth development coach at Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers between 2006 and 2008. On 14 October 2009, Williams was installed as assistant to caretaker manager and former Southampton teammate Jason Dodd at League Two club Aldershot Town. The pair presided over four matches and departed after a 2–0 FA Cup second round victory over Bury on 7 November. 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. He managed the U13 team, served as assistant to U18 manager Jason Dodd and coached specialist sessions for teams between U14 and U18 level. Dodd and Williams were dismissed from their roles on 20 May 2014. Dodd and Williams presided over a productive era for the Saints academy, 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. Williams was first team coach at Hampshire Premier League club Team Solent during the 2010–11 season. Williams was announced as assistant manager/first team coach under Ian Baird at Conference South club Eastleigh on 2 June 2011. On 1 July, it was announced that Williams had left…

Player

Southampton

FA Cup runner-up: 2002–03

Manager

England U20

Four Nations Tournament: 2016

Individual

Coventry City Player of the Year: 1995–96