Rob Edwards (footballer, born 1982)

Robert Owen Edwards (born 25 December 1982) is a professional football manager and former player. Edwards played as a centre back and is currently head coach for the England U16s.

For other people named Robert Edwards, see Robert Edwards (disambiguation).

Rob Edwards
Personal information
Full name Robert Owen Edwards
Date of birth (1982-12-25) 25 December 1982
Place of birth Madeley, England
Position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 England U16s (Manager)
Youth career
0000–1999 Aston Villa[1]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2004 Aston Villa 8 (0)
2003 → Crystal Palace (loan) 7 (1)
2004 → Derby County (loan) 11 (1)
2004–2008 Wolverhampton Wanderers 111 (1)
2008–2011 Blackpool 67 (2)
2011 → Norwich City (loan) 3 (0)
2011–2013 Barnsley 17 (0)
2012 → Fleetwood Town (loan) 4 (0)
2013 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 4 (0)
Total 232 (5)
National team
2003–2006 Wales 15 (0)
Teams managed
2016 Wolverhampton Wanderers (interim)
2017–2018 AFC Telford United
2018–2019 Wolverhampton Wanderers U23
2020– England U16s
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Edwards began his career with Aston Villa, making his senior debut in the Premier League. He then moved to Midlands neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2004, where he spent four seasons at Championship level. He helped both Blackpool and Norwich to promotions to the Premier League and featured regularly for Barnsley in the Championship before retiring due to injury in 2013.

Club career

Aston Villa

Born in Madeley, Shropshire, Edwards started his career as an apprentice at Aston Villa, and worked his way up to his first-team debut on 28 December 2002, in a 1–0 home win over Middlesbrough.[2] In January 2003, after playing in three consecutive matches at right-back he signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with the club.[3] Edwards went on to make nine appearances in total for the Villans, all during 2002–03. He was sent on loan to Crystal Palace in November 2003, where he spent one month, playing six games and scoring one goal in a 1–1 draw with Coventry City.[4]

Edwards then joined Derby County on loan in January 2004, where he stayed until the end of the season. He scored one goal for the club against Gillingham on 17 January, and played ten games.[5]

In May 2004, Edwards was told by then Aston Villa manager, David O'Leary, that he could leave the club.[6]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Edwards made the short journey across the Midlands and joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in July 2004 in a three-year deal for £150,000.[7] His Molineux career made a slow start, after playing in the club's opening four league games following relegation from the Premier League, he suffered ankle ligament damage that kept him sidelined for almost six months.

The defender gained more playing time in the 2005–06 campaign and he played the majority of the following season under new manager Mick McCarthy but suffered knee ligament damage in April 2007.[8] that kept him out of the season's end as the team made the play-offs.

On 5 September 2007, in a reserve team match against Walsall, he again suffered knee ligament injury.[9] He scored his first and only goal for Wolves on 9 February 2008 in a 4–2 home defeat to Stoke City.[10]

He was placed on the transfer list in May 2008, despite having one year still to run on his contract.[11]

Blackpool

On 6 August 2008, he left Wolves to join Blackpool, signing a two-year contract with an option for a further year for an undisclosed fee.[12][13] He made his debut for the Seasiders on 9 August 2008 in a 1–0 home defeat to Bristol City. Edwards was captain of the side for the 1–1 draw at Norwich City on 16 August as Keith Southern who had captained the side up to then in the 2008–09 season, was suspended.

On 29 August, Blackpool manager Simon Grayson confirmed that Edwards would be team captain for the season.[14][15] His first goal for the Seasiders came on 29 December 2008 when he scored Blackpool's second equaliser in a 2–2 draw against his former club Wolverhampton Wanderers at Bloomfield Road. During his first season, Grayson left as a Blackpool Manager to join Leeds United and Tony Parkes was the caretaker manager for Blackpool where he was manager until end of the season. Also, Edwards suffered an ankle injury but returned to training to re-establish his place in the side.

After Parkes left Blackpool over finances, Manager Ian Holloway took over. At the time, Edwards urged all the players to do their utmost to impress their new manager.[16] Under Holloway, Edwards made 21 appearances.

On 19 July 2010, he agreed a new contract with Blackpool, a one-year deal with an option for a further 12 months.[17] Edwards explained playing in the Premier League was the reason behind him signing a new contract at the club.[18] In November 2010, Edwards made his first Premier League appearance with Blackpool since the 2002/03 season when he faced his former club Aston Villa in a 3–2 loss.

Norwich City

On 21 February 2011, Edwards signed for Norwich City on loan until the end of the season.[19] He made his debut as a second-half substitute for Zak Whitbread in the 1–1 draw against Preston North End on 5 March 2011 and would go on to help the club clinch promotion to the Premier League.

Barnsley

After his release from Blackpool, Edwards was signed for Barnsley on a free transfer, becoming Keith Hill's seventh signing of the summer.[20] Edwards made his debut for the club in a 0–0 draw against Nottingham Forest on 21 February 2012.

After a short spell at Fleetwood Town earlier in the season, he joined Shrewsbury Town on loan on 31 January 2013.

Coaching career
Edwards during the Jody Craddock Testimonial in May 2014

On 11 October 2013 he announced that he had retired from professional football at the age of 30.[21]

Edwards became Under 18s coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. His first season in charge (2014/2015) was considered to be very successful [22] and led to him being promoted to help Head Coach Kenny Jackett for the final two months of the season. Edwards was then promoted to the role of full-time First Team Coach during the summer of 2015.

On 25 October 2016 Edwards was appointed interim head coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers following the sacking of Walter Zenga.[23] He took charge of two games – a 1–1 draw at Blackburn, followed by a 2–3 defeat to Derby – before Paul Lambert took charge. Edwards remained at a club in the role of first team coach until the conclusion of the season when he departed alongside Lambert.[24]

On 28 June 2017 Rob Edwards was named as the new permanent manager of AFC Telford United.[25]

Edwards was appointed as the head coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers U23 on 20 July 2018.[26] In his first season in charge of the side, Edwards led the under-23s to promotion to Premier League 2 Division 1, the highest level of youth football, for the first time in Wolves' history.[27]

In October 2019, Edwards left Wolverhampton Wanderers to take up a 'prestigious role' with The Football Association working as a coach with the England U20s.[28] On 24 September 2020, Edwards was appointed as head coach for the England U16s.[29]

Club career statistics
As of 24 August 2010
Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
England League FA Cup League Cup Total
2002–03Aston VillaPremier League 8010-90
2003–04Crystal Palace (loan)First Division 71--71
2003–04Derby County (loan)First Division 111--111
2004–05Wolverhampton WanderersChampionship 170-10180
2005–06Wolverhampton WanderersChampionship 4201020450
2006–07Wolverhampton WanderersChampionship 3302010360
2007–08Wolverhampton WanderersChampionship 812020121
2008–09BlackpoolChampionship 362-10372
2009–10BlackpoolChampionship 2001030260
2010–11BlackpoolPremier League 101020
Career total 1845701102035

a. 1 league play-off appearance for Blackpool in 2010 (included in 2009–10 total)

Managerial statistics
As of match played 19 August 2017
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Wolverhampton Wanderers (interim) 25 October 2016 5 November 2016 2 0 1 1 3 4 −1 000.00 [30]
AFC Telford United 28 June 2017 4 May 2018 5 2 0 3 3 6 −3 040.00 —
Total 7 2 1 4 6 10 −4 028.57 —

Honours
Blackpool
Norwich City

International career

Edwards represented England at youth level, but not in a UEFA-recognised game, so qualified for Wales as his parents are both Welsh.[31] He made his debut for Wales before he left Aston Villa, on 29 March 2003, in a 4–0 European Championship qualifying victory over Azerbaijan.[32]

References
  1. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 418. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  2. "Premiership clockwatch". BBC Sport. 28 December 2002. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  3. "New deal for Edwards". BBC Sport. 10 January 2003. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  4. "Crystal Palace 1–1 Coventry". BBC Sport. 29 November 2003. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  5. "Derby 2–1 Gillingham". BBC Sport. 17 January 2004. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  6. "Edwards set to leave Villa". BBC Sport. 31 May 2004.
  7. "Wolves seal Edwards deal". BBC Sport. 20 April 2004.
  8. "Edwards eyes return in play-offs". BBC Sport. 19 April 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  9. "Edwards sidelined by knee injury". BBC Sport. 6 September 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  10. "Wolverhampton 2–4 Stoke". BBC Sport. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  11. "Wolves have end-of-term clear-out". BBC Sport. 9 May 2008.
  12. "Edwards Arrives!". Blackpool. 7 August 2008. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  13. "Blackpool sign defender Edwards". BBC Sport. 7 August 2008.
  14. Canavan, Steve (29 August 2008). "Edwards confirmed as Pool skipper". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  15. "Edwards Named New Pool Skipper". Blackpool. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  16. "Edwards out to impress". Sky Sports. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  17. "Edwards Agrees New Deal". Blackpool F.C. 19 July 2010. Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  18. "Edwards pens new Pool deal". Sky Sports. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  19. "Canaries swoop for Edwards". Sky Sports. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  20. "Tykes take Edwards". Sky Sports. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  21. "Former Wales and Wolves defender Rob Edwards announces his retirement from playing". Sky Sports. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  22. https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2015/06/03/rob-edwards-excelling-as-a-coach-at-wolves/
  23. "Walter Zenga: Wolves sack head coach after 87 days in charge". BBC Sport. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  24. "Paul Lambert departs Wolves". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 30 May 2017.
  25. "AFC Telford United - AFC Telford United are delighted to announce the arrival of a new manager in Rob Edwards". Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  26. Edwards To Lead Under 23s, wolves.co.uk, 20 June 2018
  27. Under-23s confirmed as league champions, wolves.co.uk, 29 April 2019
  28. "Rob Edwards leaves Wolves to take up FA role". Express and Star. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  29. "THE COACHING STAFF FOR OUR ENGLAND TEAMS DURING THE 2020-21 SEASON HAS BEEN CONFIRMED". 24 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  30. "2016–17 Wolverhampton Wanderers Fixtures and Results". Soccerbase. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  31. "Hughes targets Villa youngster". BBC Sport. 15 January 2003.
  32. "Match Report – Wales 4 – 0 Azerbaijan". Football Association of Wales. 29 March 2003. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
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