Lee Carsley

Derby County

A defensive midfielder, Carsley began his career with First Division club Derby County and made his debut in a 6–1 Anglo-Italian Cup group stage victory over Cesena on 6 September 1994. He went on to become a regular fixture in the team during the 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons, making 37 appearances and scoring two goals in the latter campaign to help the Rams to a second-place finish and promotion to the Premiership. Carsley made 30 appearances during his first season in the top-flight as the club consolidated its position with a 12th-place finish. He remained at Pride Park until March 1999 and departed Derby having made 166 appearances and scored five goals for the club.

Blackburn Rovers

Carsley joined Premiership strugglers Blackburn Rovers in March 1999 for a £3.4 million fee. He made eight appearances in the final two months of the 1998–99 season and failed to taste victory before suffering relegation to the First Division. In the second-tier, Carsley was encouraged to play a more advanced midfield role by manager Brian Kidd and showed the best goalscoring form of his career, topping the club's chart with 11 goals, though Rovers could finish no better than 11th. Despite falling out of favour with new manager Graeme Souness and handing in a transfer request, Carsley played on into the 2000–01 season, before leaving the club in December 2000. Carsley made 55 appearances and scored 13 goals during just over 18 months at Ewood Park. Carsley…

U21 and 'B'

Carsley qualified for the Republic of Ireland national team through his grandmother, who was from Dunmanway, County Cork. He made his international debut at U21 level in a 3–1 1996 European U21 Championship qualifying defeat to Portugal U21 on 14 November 1995 and represented the B team in a match against the League of Ireland XI 18 months later.

Full

Carsley won his first cap at senior level in a 1–1 1998 World Cup qualifying draw with Romania on 11 October 1997 and played in Ireland's two playoff matches, which were lost 3–2 on aggregate to Belgium. He was a regular during Ireland's failed qualifying attempt for Euro 2000 and played in the 1–1 playoff first leg draw with Turkey on 13 November 1999. Despite having featured in only four matches in the previous 20 months and only one 2002 World Cup qualifier, Carsley was selected in Mick McCarthy's squad for the 2002 World Cup. He made one appearance in the tournament, as a late substitute for Mark Kinsella in a 3–0 group stage win over Saudi Arabia. On 7 April 2004, Carsley declared that he would take a break from international football in order to focus on his family and winning his place back in the Everton team. In September 2005, Carsley announced that "as soon as I am playing again, I will be straight on the phone saying I want to be considered for the Ireland squad". He returned to international football with a start in a 1–1 Euro 2008 qualifying draw with the Czech Republic on 11 October…

Coventry City

Carsley worked on his coaching badges while a player at Everton and in July 2011, Carsley was appointed coach of Coventry City's U18 team. He led them to runners-up spot in the Premier Academy League and was promoted to coach the Development Squad and assist with the club's first team in May 2012. He left the club in July 2013.

Sheffield United

In July 2013, Carsley joined League One club Sheffield United as "Assistant to the Manager-Technical", working alongside his former Everton teammate David Weir, who had taken charge of the Bramall Lane club a month earlier. After winning the first game of the season 2–1 against Notts County, the Blades failed to win any of their next 12 matches and both Carsley and Weir were sacked on 11 October 2013.

England age-groups

In September 2015, Carsley began coaching the England U19 team under his former Coventry City manager Aidy Boothroyd. In 2016, Carsley was revealed to be a full-time "out of possession" coach for all the England teams between U15 and U21 level. On 29 August 2017, it was announced that Carsley had been named as the England U21 team's part-time specialist national coach. In September 2020, he became the Professional Development Phase lead, which encompasses the U18, U19 and U20 age-groups. Carsley served in the role until July 2021.

Manchester City Academy

On 29 August 2016, Carsley was appointed as Manchester City U18 manager in August 2016. He had a successful 2016–17…

Coventry City

Upon the sacking of manager Andy Thorn on 26 August 2012, Carsley and Richard Shaw took over as caretaker managers, before the appointment of Mark Robins on 19 September. Later that season, Carsley took sole caretaker charge when Robins left the club on 14 February 2013, until Steven Pressley's appointment on 8 March.

Brentford

Carsley was appointed Development Squad manager at Championship club Brentford in mid-October 2014, replacing Jon De Souza. The move saw Carsley reunite with David Weir, then-first team assistant manager at Griffin Park and he managed the Development Squad to a third-from-bottom finish in the Professional Development League 2 South during the 2014–15 season. On 28 September 2015, Carsley was promoted to head coach of the first team following the departure of Marinus Dijkhuizen, with his former Derby County and Coventry City teammate Paul Williams promoted from logistics manager to assistant head coach. He accepted a deal until the end of the 2015–16 season. Having lost his first two matches in charge, an upturn in form (after being afforded time to work with the squad during an international break) saw Carsley win the October 2015 Championship Manager of the Month award for leading the Bees to four wins from five matches. With incoming head coach Dean Smith watching from the stands, Carsley's tenure ended with a 1–1 draw away to Bolton Wanderers on 30 November. He remained at Griffin Park to assist Smith's integration…