Latest news with #DeanLewington
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Brentford's new boss Keith Andrews is Guinness-loving former Premier League star who suffers no fools
KEITH ANDREWS is a people's person who loves a pint of Guinness and a night out. But when comes down to business, the new Brentford boss suffers no fools and his attention to detail is off the charts. 4 4 That is the view of two of his ex-team-mates who have also observed his coaching abilities first hand. Andrews, 44, is taking over from Thomas Frank at Bees after being promoted from set-piece coach. David Dunn played alongside him in Blackburn's midfield in the Premier League while Dean Lewington was a team-mate at MK Dons and later coached there by him too. And both say Andrews is far from a risky appointment despite never having been a manager - let alone in the top flight. Former England international Dunn, 45, told SunSport: 'I read and hear this stuff that he was just their set-piece coach. But he's been doing much more than that. 'I've spent a lot of time with Brentford recently. 'And I've got to know the guys there inside out. They've got everything covered. 'They've spent so much on research and development, finding small fine margins to give them an edge. It's a brilliant club. 'Keith did the set-piece coach role brilliantly. Look at the amount of goals they scored and how few they conceded from set-pieces. 'But he was also helping the guys in lots of other areas too. He's been coaching for years and along with his playing career fully understands all aspects of the game.' Claudia Schiffer's film-maker husband in talks to buy stake in Brentford after supermodel seen at Premier League game 4 4 Andrews joined Rovers in 2008 after winning promotion with MK Dons in League Two and following his boss Paul Ince to Ewood Park. The ex-midfielder spent three seasons in the top flight, playing also under Sam Allardyce and Steve Kean. Dunn added: 'His leadership qualities and work ethic were excellent and he led by example. 'He was insightful and thoughtful in his views about the game and never afraid to give his opinion. I'm not surprised he's gone on to do well in coaching.' MK Dons legend Lewington won promotion with Andrews in 2008 as well as winning the EFL Trophy at Wembley - with Andrews scoring in the 2-0 victory over Grimsby at Wembley. Lewington, who retired this summer at the age of 41 after making an incredible 916 appearances for the club, said: 'Keith was our talisman and captain that season. 'In all honesty he was above our level. He was a Championship-standard player who went on to play in the Prem. 'He just oozed leadership and professionalism — and speaks concisely and with such great authority. 'Keith is also passionate and demands high and immaculate standards. 'We used to enjoy some nights out and he loved a beer, especially Guinness, but when it was time to work he was ultra professional. 'When he came back as a coach under Karl Robinson everything had to be perfect. Even the smallest detail was important to him. 'And he isn't a person who suffers fools gladly. You had to be with him. 'Hopefully Keith will be another successful story for Brentford.' This is echoed by Dunn, who points to the fact that Frank led the club into the Prem after being promoted from within to replace Dean Smith. And he said: 'Often people say it's a risk to appoint from within. Blackburn promoted Ray Harford to replace Kenny Dalglish and that didn't work out. 'But there are equally examples where it did work, no better than the one set by Brentford with Frank. 'Brentford might well be losing quite a few big players this summer and it will be down to their excellent recruitment team there to get the right players in. 'Yet, knowing Keith and his abilities, he has all the attribute to be a success. He knows what it takes and is a great fit.'
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lewington stays with Dons in development role
Long-serving defender Dean Lewington is to stay with MK Dons in a coaching role with the club's newly-formed development 40-year-old had been considering his future after deciding to retire at the end of the season following 917 will work with first-year professional and schoolboy-level players as an individual development coach from the beginning of pre-season."Lewie has been an integral part of this football club from day one, achieving something that I think we all agree will never be seen again," said sporting director Liam Sweeting."We have been so fortunate to lean on Dean's wisdom on the pitch, but his new career path provides an excellent chance to pass on some of his experience to those aspiring to reach the senior level of football, and for Dean to enter the next chapter of his career as a coach."Lewington, who has acted as interim boss on three occasions, already has a Uefa B coaching licence and is now studying for his A of an A licence are eligible to coach men's teams up to and including the second tier. Lewington began his playing career with Wimbledon FC and stayed with them when they made the move to Milton Keynes in was involved in many of the club's biggest moments, winning the EFL Trophy at Wembley in 2008, beating Manchester United 4-0 in the League Cup in 2014 and winning promotion to the Championship in final appearance as a player came as a late substitute in their season-ending game away to Swindon Town on 3 May.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MK Dons legend Lewington to get Freedom of the City
MK Dons captain Dean Lewington will be awarded the Freedom of the City to recognise his contribution to both club and community. Lewington, 40, who retires at the end of this season, has made more than 900 appearances for the Dons, making him the club's all-time appearance record holder. The announcement he would be getting the award - to be presented at a special council meeting - was made at a gala dinner being held in his honour. "Dean Lewington's loyalty to MK Dons and to Milton Keynes is truly remarkable," said Pete Marland, the leader of the city Council. "His commitment, leadership and contribution both on and off the pitch make him an outstanding ambassador for our city and it's a real pleasure to be able to recognise his contributions with this honour," added Marland, a Labour councillor. Jane Carr, a Liberal Democrat councillor who leads the opposition group on the council, said: "It is proper and fitting that Dean is being proposed for this award and I look forward to the Special Council Meeting to celebrate his achievements." Lewington will become only the second individual recipient of the Freedom of the City since Milton Keynes was granted city status in 2022. Leah Williamson, captain of the Lionesses, the England Women's team, was given the honour in 2023. Lewington was part of MK Dons squad that won the EFL Trophy at Wembley in 2008 and were then promoted to the Championship in 2015. In 2023, he set a new English Football League record for the most league appearances for the same club. The Freedom of the City, the highest honour a city council can give, recognises individuals who have provided service to the area. The council said it would announce the date of the special meeting soon. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Ending playing career is 'a bit scary' - Lewington Lewington equals appearance record in MK Dons win 'Prehistoric' Lewington set for 900th appearance MK Dons captain Lewington signs new deal MK Dons Milton Keynes City Council
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Dean Lewington to be awarded Freedom of City of Milton Keynes
MK Dons captain Dean Lewington will be awarded the Freedom of the City to recognise his contribution to both club and 40, who retires at the end of this season, has made more than 900 appearances for the Dons, making him the club's all-time appearance record announcement he would be getting the award - to be presented at a special council meeting - was made at a gala dinner being held in his honour."Dean Lewington's loyalty to MK Dons and to Milton Keynes is truly remarkable," said Pete Marland, the leader of the city Council. "His commitment, leadership and contribution both on and off the pitch make him an outstanding ambassador for our city and it's a real pleasure to be able to recognise his contributions with this honour," added Marland, a Labour councillor. Second recipient Jane Carr, a Liberal Democrat councillor who leads the opposition group on the council, said: "It is proper and fitting that Dean is being proposed for this award and I look forward to the Special Council Meeting to celebrate his achievements."Lewington will become only the second individual recipient of the Freedom of the City since Milton Keynes was granted city status in Williamson, captain of the Lionesses, the England Women's team, was given the honour in was part of MK Dons squad that won the EFL Trophy at Wembley in 2008 and were then promoted to the Championship in 2023, he set a new English Football League record for the most league appearances for the same Freedom of the City, the highest honour a city council can give, recognises individuals who have provided service to the area. The council said it would announce the date of the special meeting soon. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ending playing career is 'a bit scary'
Dean Lewington once admitted to being a bit of a footballing dinosaur."As you get older, especially the way modern football is going, over 30s are seen as prehistoric really," he said in the autumn of 2022 as he approached the 900th match of his just over a month away from his 41st birthday, time has finally caught up with the MK Dons defender, who will end his time as a player at the end of the Peter Shilton, Tony Ford, Graham Alexander and Terry Paine have played more senior games in English football than Lewington."It feels quite surreal. Beforehand 'retiring' is just a word, it sounds OK and then it dawned on me that I won't get to play football (any more), which is a little bit scary now that it's come to it," he told BBC Look East."It's been on my mind for maybe two years now and it's just the right time."I was in a Sunday league team at six, in an academy at eight, and I'm now about to turn 41, so three quarters of my life has been playing football. "My whole life will change and that part is unfortunately coming to an end." From Wimbledon to Milton Keynes Lewington played his first league game as an 18-year-old for the old Wimbledon FC against Sheffield Wednesday in April 2003, just a few months before the club relocated to Milton was a controversial decision by the InterMK consortium, headed by Pete Winkelman, and led to them being renamed MK Dons ahead of the 2004-05 season."The news about coming to Milton Keynes was circulating for a year or two, but it was still under the Wimbledon name so it was kind of a weird time," he said. "There was a lot of uncertainty and a lot of noise around the move because it had never happened before. It was a strange time but quite exciting for a young player. "If I'd been mid-career it would have been very different, but for a young player it felt new and a challenge and turned into this (long career)."He continued: "We didn't know where it was at all really....20 years ago there were roads with a lot of piles of sand and dirt where (housing) estates would be (in the future) so it had a different feel about it. "My Mum told me that they offered my nan (a chance) to relocate to Milton Keynes in the 60s or 70s, but she turned it down - so I came instead! "It was all new, most of the boys were from inner London, it was something we'd never come across." MK 'does make sense, it's just a little bit different' Many visiting Milton Keynes for the first time have mixed feelings about it, but Lewington feels right at home."Anyone who comes here says 'I don't understand it' and I kind of understand what they mean from being an outsider coming here," he said. "There are some really nice villages on the outskirts. And when you drive into town you can park right outside the restaurants, whereas in London you have to find a car park and walk 10 minutes, or use public transport. "If you immerse yourself in it, you appreciate why it was designed the way it was and it does make sense, it's just a little bit different."Lewington has had plenty of great moments as a Don, including a 4-0 League Cup win over Manchester United in 2014, in front of a crowd of more than 26, that is not the best memory from his long career."The Yeovil game here (in 2015) to get (promotion) to the Championship is probably the best moment. It took 10 years for us to get to there," Lewington said. 'My peers retired six or seven years ago' Lewington has not played a first-team game since the end of November, but what does he put his longevity down to?"I'm not an explosive player so I don't have a tendency to pull muscles."He added: "My peer groups that I came through with retired six or seven years ago. I feel very fortunate that I managed to stay relatively injury-free which allowed me to play for so long and also that my style of game allowed me to do that. "This last season has been disappointing in terms of how many games I've played but before that I've played most of the season (each year) and it's something that I love doing. It's a job that most people would give their right arm to do."Lewington has been MK Dons interim boss on three occasions but was overlooked for that role when Scott Lindsey was sacked in is currently working to earn his badges with a view to a move into coaching but admits it will be a huge wrench if the path forwards means he has to leave the club."I'm institutionalised now," he said. "It's such a fantastic club. I've poured my life into it for 20 years and it saddens me to see where it is at the moment (in League Two). "There is potential for it to be so much more and I would like to be involved in that, but whatever comes, we'll wait and see."
