Dean Holden

**Dean Thomas John Holden** (born 15 September 1979) is an English former footballer and the assistant manager at Stoke City.

During a career which began at Bolton Wanderers in 1998 and ended with a two-year stint at Walsall from 2012 to 2014, Holden was a defender who was comfortable playing at right-back and centre-back. Over that sixteen-year period, he amassed 369 league appearances in representing ten clubs, scoring 22 goals. He moved in to coaching with Oldham Athletic in November 2014 and spent time as manager from February 2015 until May 2015. Holden joined Bristol City in November 2016 as assistant manager to Lee Johnson. Following Johnson's departure on 4 July 2020, Holden was placed in caretaker charge before been given the role on a permanent basis. He was sacked by Bristol City in February 2021. In April 2021 Holden joined Stoke City as assistant manager.

## Playing career

Born in Swinton, Greater Manchester, Holden started his career with Bolton Wanderers where he made 13 league appearances and scored once against Sheffield United, before moving on to Oldham Athletic after a successful loan period.

After over 100 first-team appearances for Oldham he joined Peterborough United in 2005. He was made captain but, with his contract close to expiry, he was transferred to Falkirk on 1 January 2007 for an undisclosed fee.

On 27 January 2008, Holden suffered a broken leg, after a late tackle by Celtic's Stephen McManus, during Falkirk's 1–0 home defeat, leaving him out of action until October.

Holden signed a two-year contract with Shrewsbury Town on 26 June 2009. On 5 August 2010 Holden signed on loan at Rotherham United, initially for only one month but this was extended twice until he was recalled early by Shrewsbury on 20 October. On 31 January 2011, Holden had his contract cancelled by mutual agreement and he became a free agent.

Chesterfield signed Holden on 3 February 2011 in a short-term contract until the end of the season. Holden then signed a new one-year deal with Chesterfield on 18 May 2011.

On 3 November 2011, Holden joined Rochdale on loan until January 2012. In January 2012, Holden made his loan switch permanent on a six-month contract. In May 2012, Holden was released from Rochdale after being told his contract would not be renewed.

On 16 July 2012, Dean Holden signed a one-year deal at League One side Walsall.

## International career

Despite his English birth and having played for the England youth team, Holden qualified to represent Northern Ireland through his grandparents, and was called up to their full squad for the first time in June 2007 but did not make an appearance.

## Managerial career

On 14 November 2014, Holden left Walsall to join former club Oldham Athletic as first-team coach. On 17 March 2015, after a spell as caretaker manager, Holden remained manager until the end of the 2014–15 season. Holden returned to his assistant manager role following the appointment of Darren Kelly in May 2015. Holden was sacked by Oldham along with David Dunn in January 2016 after a poor run of form. He re-joined Walsall in March 2016 as first-team coach.

Holden joined Bristol City as assistant manager to Lee Johnson in November 2016. On 4 July 2020, following the dismissal of Johnson Holden became caretaker head coach. In August 2020 Holden was appointed as full-time head coach at Bristol City, on a 12-month rolling contract, after he had won two and drawn two games of the last five of the 2019–20 season while in temporary charge. On 16 February 2021, Holden was sacked after a run of six successive defeats in all competitions and the club placed 13th in the Championship.

On 14 April 2021, Holden was appointed as assistant to Michael O'Neill at Stoke City.

## Personal life

In June 2006, Holden married television presenter Danielle Nicholls. They live in Worsley and have four children. In 2012 their youngest child died after contracting meningococcal sepsis, while the family were on holiday in Lanzarote.

## Managerial statistics

Template:Updated

Managerial record by team and tenure
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## Honours

Chesterfield
* Football League 2 winner 2010/11

## References

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1. ↑ Bolton strike late to deny Blades. BBC (6 May 2001).
2. ↑ Source: BBC Sport Template:In lang
3. ↑ "Falkirk manager backs injured Holden" BBC Sport website
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6. ↑ "Deano Moves On" Shrewsbury Town official website
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8. ↑ "Lee and Holden agree new Chesterfield deals" BBC Sport website, 18 May 2011.
9. ↑ "Coleman to make big changes" SkySports website, 10 May 2012. Retrieved on 12 May 2012.
10. ↑ "Cuvelier and Holden join Walsall" BBC Sport website, 16 July 2012. Retrieved on 16 July 2012.
11. ↑ "Holden called up by Northern Ireland" Falkirk official website
12. ↑ "Dean Holden: Oldham Athletic bring back Walsall man as coach" BBC Sport website, 14 November 2014. Retrieved on 14 November 2014.
13. ↑ Holden in charge for rest of season.
14. ↑ Darren Kelly: Oldham Athletic name Sunderland coach as boss.
15. ↑ INSIDE FOOTBALL WITH: Dean Holden - Gutted to be sacked by Oldham, but results had been poor.
16. ↑ DEAN HOLDEN RETURNS TO WALSALL AS COACH.
17. ↑ Dean Holden: Bristol City name Walsall coach as assistant head coach.
18. ↑ Lee Johnson relieved of head coach role.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Bristol City sack head coach Holden.
20. ↑ Breaking - Stoke City move fast to appoint new assistant manager.
21. ↑ Dean Holden: Stoke City appoint former Bristol City boss as assistant manager.
22. ↑ Walsall defender Dean Holden driven by family heartache. *BBC Sport*.
23. ↑ Template:Soccerbase season
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25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Template:Soccerbase season
26. ↑ Dean Holden.
27. ↑ Template:Soccerbase season
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31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Template:Soccerbase season
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35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 Template:Soccerbase season
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40. ↑ Managers: Dean Holden. Centurycomm.
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## External links

* Template:Soccerbase
* Profile at UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database

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