Lee Dixon

Early career

Born in Manchester, son of former Manchester City goalkeeper Roy Dixon, Lee was a boyhood Manchester City supporter. He began his professional playing career in the lower divisions. On leaving school in 1980, he joined Burnley as an apprentice in 1980, turning professional in 1982, then signed for Chester City (where he experienced finishing bottom of the whole Football League in 1983–84), Bury and later Stoke City. At the Victoria Ground Dixon made a fine impression with some fine performances from right back as he played in 50 matches in 1986–87 scoring three goals. In 1987–88 Dixon made 38 appearances scoring twice. He joined First Division Arsenal in January 1988 for a fee of £375,000 and was later joined at Highbury by Stoke teammate Steve Bould.

Arsenal

On 29 January 1988 George Graham bought Dixon from Stoke City following the departure of England right back, Viv Anderson, to Manchester United. It took a while for Dixon to be given a first-team role at Highbury. With England international Kenny Sansom at left back, the equally left-sided Nigel Winterburn had been a guarded success in the unfamiliar right back role, though Dixon did make his debut against Luton Town on 13 February 1988. This was the first time that Dixon had played in the First Division. He played six times in total before the season ended. Dixon was cup-tied in his first season which limited his appearances, and also meant he was unable to take part in the 1988 League…

Dixon made his England début in April 1990 in a World Cup warm-up game against Czechoslovakia. He played well, but there was little hope of him being in the squad for the tournament as he was at least third in the pecking order behind Gary Stevens and Paul Parker. Only injury to one of these two would have opened a door for Dixon to go to Italy and that didn't happen as the pair stayed fully fit for the length of the tournament. After the World Cup, new manager Graham Taylor instantly replaced Stevens and Parker with Dixon, who scored a goal at Wembley in his sixth international in an important Euro 92 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland. The game ended 1–1. By the end of 1991, Dixon had played in eleven internationals, including all of the Euro 92 qualifiers, through which England qualified for the finals in Sweden. As the finals approached, Dixon suffered an injury, allowing Stevens a route back into the side as the deadline for squad announcement approached. Taylor duly named Dixon instead of Stevens in his provisional squad, but ultimately neither went to the tournament. Dixon pulled out through an injury suffered in an accident at home so Stevens was recalled, only for the Rangers full back also to withdraw through injury. England ended up with no recognised right back in their squad and didn't get past the group stages. 1993 did not go well internationally, with England failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Dixon's 21st cap, in a 7–1 win…

He also worked as a regular pundit for the BBC on Match of the Day 2, as well as appearing on Score and Football Focus before leaving the BBC to join ITV Sport in July 2012. From 2013, he has been the co-lead commentator with Graeme Le Saux for the Premier League on NBC Sports, working alongside Arlo White (until summer 2022) and Peter Drury (since summer 2022). He has also contributed to the network's Premier League Download program. In 2018, he co-commentated UEFA Champions League matches in the video game by EA Sports, FIFA 19 alongside Derek Rae. This partnership continued in the 2019 game, FIFA 20 with inclusion of him also commentating some 'default' games (kick off, tournament, career and Ultimate Team modes) alongside Derek Rae once again as well in FIFA 21. However, he was replaced by Stewart Robson in FIFA 22.

In retirement, Dixon has concentrated on several business interests including the former Riverside Brasserie, now the Mediterranevm at Bray, in Bray, Berkshire, originally with his friend Heston Blumenthal. In 2010, he became "completely hooked" on cycling, and goes riding two or three times a week, after Lawrence Dallaglio persuaded him to take part in the 'Dallaglio Cycle Slam' during the Six Nations Championship in February that year, raising money for Sport Relief. They raised over £986,000 for the charity. Prior to 2013, Dixon adopted a Southern Boobook owl at the Kirkleatham Owl Centre in Redcar, naming it "Hooty McOwlface". The name of the owl went viral in 2013, influencing the subsequent naming of the National Oceanography Center's new autonomous underwater vehicle as Boaty McBoatface.