David Dunn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
David Dunn

Dunn playing for Blackburn Rovers in 2009
Personal information
Full name	David John Ian Dunn
Date of birth	(1979-12-27) 27 December 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth	Great Harwood, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1997–1998	Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2003	Blackburn Rovers	136	(30)
2003–2007	Birmingham City	58	(7)
2007–2015	Blackburn Rovers	180	(20)
2015–2016	Oldham Athletic	8	(0)
Total		382	(57)
International career
1998	England U18	3	(0)
1998–2002	England U21	20	(3)
2002	England	1	(0)
Managerial career
2015–2016	Oldham Athletic
2017–2018	Blackburn Rovers U-23 (co-manager)
2020	Blackpool (caretaker)
2020	Barrow
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

David John Ian Dunn (born 27 December 1979) is an English former professional football player, manager, and coach. He was known for playing as an attacking midfielder.

Dunn spent most of his playing career with Blackburn Rovers. He started as a youth player in 1997 and became a professional a year later. During his first time at Blackburn, he helped the club get promoted to the Premier League in 2001 and win the League Cup in 2002. He also played one match for the England senior team in 2002. After leaving Blackburn for Birmingham City in 2003, he returned to Blackburn in 2007 and played there until 2015. He finished his playing career at Oldham Athletic in 2016.

After retiring as a player, Dunn became a manager and coach. He was a player-manager at Oldham, then coached at Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, and Barrow. He also coached at Port Vale.

Early Life and Football Dreams

David Dunn was born on 27 December 1979 in Great Harwood, England. He joined Blackburn Rovers as a schoolboy. He wasn't very interested in schoolwork, but he loved football.

David's grandfather, who was also a footballer and a Blackburn Rovers fan, inspired him to play. David looked up to Blackburn Rovers legend Simon Garner when he was growing up. Besides football, David also played cricket.

Playing Career

Starting at Blackburn Rovers

David Dunn joined Blackburn Rovers as a trainee in 1997. He quickly impressed the coaches and scored his first goal for the reserve team in February 1997. He played in important youth matches, including the FA Youth Cup.

In the 1998–99 season, David was called up to the first team. He made his debut on 26 September 1998 against Everton. Even though his first game was short, he was excited to play. Soon after, he scored the winning penalty in a League Cup match against Newcastle United. He signed a contract with Blackburn until 2003 and scored his first senior goal against Aston Villa in February 1999.

Becoming a Key Player

For the 1999–2000 season, David worked hard to earn a regular spot in midfield. He scored his first goal of the season in a League Cup match against Portsmouth. Despite some injuries, he played 26 matches and scored three goals that season.

The 2000–01 season was a big one for David. He became a regular starter and scored his first goal of the season against Norwich City. He even scored a hat-trick from the penalty spot in a League Cup game against Rochdale. David scored 18 goals that season, helping Blackburn get promoted back to the Premier League. He was also named in the PFA Team of the Year for his great performances.

Premier League Success and Injuries

In the 2001–02 season, David continued to shine in the Premier League. He played a big part in Blackburn's exciting 7–1 win over West Ham United and scored two goals in a thrilling 3–3 draw against Arsenal. He helped Blackburn win the League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur in 2002, which was a major trophy for the club.

The 2002–03 season saw David start strong, scoring against Liverpool and Chelsea. He also played in the UEFA Cup. However, injuries started to affect his playing time, and he had some disagreements with the manager, Graeme Souness. At the end of this season, David decided it was time to move on. He turned down a new contract from Blackburn.

Moving to Birmingham City

In 2003, David joined Birmingham City for £5.5 million. He started well, scoring on his debut against Tottenham Hotspur. He also scored against Newcastle United. However, he struggled with hamstring injuries during his time at Birmingham, which kept him out of many games. At one point, he even thought about retiring because of his injuries. Birmingham City was relegated from the Premier League in 2006. By the time he left in January 2007, he had played 58 league games and scored 7 goals for the club.

Returning to Blackburn Rovers

On 17 January 2007, David returned to his boyhood club, Blackburn Rovers, for £2.2 million. He was very happy to be back and received a warm welcome from the fans. He quickly made an impact, helping Blackburn win games.

The 2007–08 season was a good one for David. He scored against Arsenal and provided many assists. He became a crucial player in midfield. Despite some more injuries, he played 38 matches and won the Special Club Award at Blackburn's Player of the Year awards.

In the 2008–09 season, David was made vice-captain. He started the season by scoring against Everton but then suffered a serious Achilles injury that kept him out for four months. His season was often interrupted by small injuries.

Later Years at Blackburn

David continued to be an important player for Blackburn in the 2009–10 season, despite more injury setbacks. He signed a new contract in January 2010. He scored some memorable goals, including an equaliser against local rivals Burnley. He finished the season as Blackburn's top scorer with 10 goals in 24 appearances.

The next few seasons (2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15) saw David battle more injuries. He continued to score important goals and contribute to the team, but his playing time was often limited. In 2012, Blackburn was relegated from the Premier League.

In April 2015, David announced he would leave Blackburn Rovers at the end of the season, after a combined 13 years at the club. He played his final game for Blackburn, receiving a standing ovation from the fans.

Final Club: Oldham Athletic

On 30 July 2015, David signed a one-year deal with League One club Oldham Athletic. He made his debut in the opening game of the season. He played nine matches for Oldham before taking on a new role.

International Career

David Dunn played for England at different youth levels. He played for the England U18 squad in 1998 and then for the England U21 team from 1998 to 2002, scoring three goals.

In 2002, David was called up to the England senior squad. He earned his only cap on 7 September 2002, coming on as a substitute against Portugal. He later said he wished he had played more times for his country.

Coaching Career

Oldham Athletic Manager

On 13 September 2015, David Dunn became the caretaker manager of Oldham Athletic while still a player. He was working on getting his coaching licenses. On 7 October, he was appointed permanent manager. His first win was a 2–1 victory against Swindon Town. However, Oldham struggled, and David was dismissed on 12 January 2016, after just three months in charge.

Blackburn Rovers Coach

After leaving Oldham, David returned to Blackburn Rovers on 25 February 2016 to coach the under-23s team. This meant he officially retired from playing football. In February 2017, he was promoted to first-team coach. He helped the under-23s win their league in 2018, and the first team also got promoted back to the Championship. David left Blackburn in June 2018 to focus on his family and other interests.

Blackpool and Barrow

In January 2020, David joined Blackpool as an assistant coach. He briefly became the caretaker manager in February 2020 and led the team to some good results before a new manager was appointed.

In July 2020, David was appointed manager of Barrow, signing a two-year contract. This was his first permanent managerial job since Oldham. However, after 22 matches, he was sacked in December 2020.

Port Vale Coach

In July 2022, David joined Port Vale as a first-team coach. He left the club in February 2024.

Personal Life

David Dunn has three children with his wife, Hayley. He was previously engaged to actress Sammy Winward, and they have a daughter named Mia.

During his first time at Blackburn Rovers, David wrote a column for the Lancashire Telegraph. He also went into business with former teammate Garry Flitcroft, running a timber company.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances and Goals

International Appearances

Managerial Record

Awards and Achievements

Blackburn Rovers

• FA Youth Cup runner-up: 1998
• Football League First Division second-place promotion: 2000–01
• League Cup: 2001–02

Birmingham City

• Football League Championship second-place promotion: 2006–07

Individual Awards

• BBC North West's Annual Sports Awards: 2001
• PFA Team of the Year: 2000–01 First Division

See also

In Spanish: David Dunn para niños