Sean Dyche

Watford

Having retired, following his release from Northampton, Dyche re-joined Watford as under-18s coach in 2007, and was promoted to assistant manager in July 2009 when Malky Mackay was appointed Watford manager. Mackay left to join Cardiff City in June 2011, and Dyche was promoted to manager. Watford finished the 2011–12 season in eleventh place in the Football League Championship, the club's best finish for four years, but a change in club ownership led to his dismissal at the end of the season.

Burnley

Dyche joined the England national under-21 football team as a temporary member of the backroom staff in September 2012, but the following month became manager of Burnley, succeeding Eddie Howe, who had left the club to rejoin Bournemouth. Before the start of the 2013–14 campaign, Burnley were tipped as relegation candidates by the bookies; Dyche had to work with a tight budget and a small squad, and Burnley's top goal scorer from the previous season, Charlie Austin, had moved to Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers. In Dyche's first full season in charge, however, Burnley finished second and were promoted back to the Premier League. The new strike partnership of Danny Ings and Sam Vokes had 41 league goals between them. Dyche used only 23 players during the season, which was the joint-lowest in the division, and had paid only one transfer fee – £400,000 for striker Ashley Barnes. Burnley's spell in the top flight lasted only a single season, as they…

Dyche was a youth-team player at Nottingham Forest in the late 1980s, while Brian Clough was manager. When he joined Forest he was 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) and weighed 10 stone (64 kg; 140 lb) but grew to 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) and 12 stone (76 kg; 168 lb) after a year. He injured his leg early in his career, which Dyche said held him back. It also left him with a permanent bend in his leg. Dyche was present at the Hillsborough disaster, having travelled to the stadium as part of the Forest youth side. He left Forest in early 1990 without making a first-team appearance, and signed for Chesterfield, where he later became captain. Dyche was part of the team that reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1997. In the FA Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough, he scored a penalty to put his side 2–0 up in an eventual 3–3 draw. Chesterfield lost the replay 3–0. Dyche left Chesterfield for Bristol City in 1997, helping them win promotion to Division One in his first season. City were relegated the following season, during which Dyche spent time on loan at Luton Town. He moved to Millwall for £150,000 in 1999, but only played once in his first season due to a back injury. He won promotion to Division One in 2001 and came close to a Premier League place the following year, losing to eventual promotion winners Birmingham City in the play-off semi-finals. In July 2002, Watford manager Ray Lewington signed Dyche within 24 hours of his appointment. Two years later, Dyche was named captain as Neil Cox did…

Dyche was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire. He grew up as an admirer of Liverpool, but was a Kettering Town supporter. His father was a management consultant at British Steel Corporation, working in Egypt, India, and Corby. He has two brothers. Dyche and his wife Jane have two children. Dyche's son, Max, plays professional football for Northampton Town. Dyche is well known for his distinctive gravelly voice. Dyche features in an internet meme criticising modern trends in football, in which the phrase "utter woke nonsense" is attributed to him; he said "I wish I'd copyrighted it. Considering I didn't actually say it, it does follow me around".

Player

Millwall

Football League Second Division: 2000–01

Manager

Burnley

Football League Championship: 2015–16; second-place promotion: 2013–14 Individual

Premier League Manager of the Month: March 2018, February 2020, April 2024 Football League Championship Manager of the Month: September 2013, October 2013, April 2014, February 2016