Aaron Danks

Aaron Danks (born 15 June 1983) is an English football coach who is currently a first team coach at EFL Championship club Middlesbrough.

This article is about the English football coach. For the Australian businessman, see John Danks & Son.
Aaron Danks
Personal information
Date of birth (1983-06-15) 15 June 1983
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Managerial career
Years Team
2020–2021 England U21 (assistant)
2021 Anderlecht (assistant)
2021–2022 Aston Villa (assistant)
2022 Aston Villa (caretaker)
2022– Middlesbrough (assistant)

Danks was assistant manager to Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht, before leaving to be assistant to Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa. He has also coached at Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and England U21.

Career

Youth coaching

Danks' first role in football was as a Community Football Development Officer at Birmingham City, joining in 1999 and later coaching in their academy.[1] In 2005, Danks was hired as a youth coach at the West Bromwich Albion Academy, working for the club for over a decade between 2005 and 2016, before leaving after being selected by The Football Association to become Head of Specialist Coaching and Lead Offensive Specialist Coach for various levels of the England national team.[2] Danks was part of the coaching staff for the England U20 team that won the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[3]

As part of his work with the FA, Danks spent a short time with basketball team Golden State Warriors, working closely with Stephen Curry and his individual development coach.[4]

In 2019, Danks attained a UEFA Pro Licence, graduating alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard and Peter Schmeichel.[5]

Danks worked as assistant manager for the England U21 side for one year from 2020 to 2021.

Anderlecht

On 1 July 2021, Danks was appointed assistant manager to Vincent Kompany at Belgian First Division A club R.S.C. Anderlecht.[6]

Aston Villa

On 1 September 2021, Danks departed Anderlecht to join Premier League club Aston Villa, as assistant to Dean Smith, following the departure of Richard O'Kelly.[7] On 13 November 2021, following the sacking of Dean Smith and the appointment of Steven Gerrard as Aston Villa manager it was confirmed that Danks would retain his position as assistant manager.[8]

On 21 October 2022, the day after the sacking of Gerrard as Villa manager, it was announced that Danks would remain at Villa and act as caretaker manager for their upcoming Premier League match against Brentford,[9] which Villa won 4–0.[10] On 24 October, Aston Villa announced that Unai Emery would take over as manager, however, due to work permit formalities - Danks would remain as interim manager until 1 November. [11] On 31 October, it was confirmed that Danks had been offered another coaching role at Aston Villa, away from the first team.[12]

Middlesbrough

On 1 December 2022, Danks departed Aston Villa and joined Michael Carrick's backroom staff at Middlesbrough as a first team coach.[13][14]

Managerial statistics
As of 29 October 2022
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
PWDLWin %
Aston Villa (caretaker) 21 October 2022 1 November 2022 2 1 0 1 050.0 [15]
Total 2 1 0 1 050.0 —

References
  1. "Match Preview: Aston Villa". Brentford Football Club. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  2. "The Specialist Coach: A Conversation with Aaron Danks". Player Development Project. 21 July 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  3. Wilson, Matt (13 June 2017). "Danks very much! Former West Brom coach wins U20 World Cup with England". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  4. Townley, John (3 September 2021). "Aston Villa coach Aaron Danks a 'pioneer' ready for his next challenge". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  5. "FA Level 5 in Coaching Football graduates celebrate at SGP | The Boot Room". The Football Association. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  6. "Assistant-coach Aaron Danks leaves RSCA | RSC Anderlecht". www.rsca.be. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  7. "Aston Villa appoint Aaron Danks as First Team Coach". Aston Villa Football Club. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  8. Preece, Ashley (17 November 2021). "Transfer gurus to fitness fanatics - Steven Gerrard's 30-man Villa support team". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  9. "Board Update". Aston Villa Football Club. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  10. Preece, Ashley (23 October 2022). "Aston Villa vs Brentford LIVE updates from Villa Park". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  11. "Villa appoint Unai Emery as new Head Coach". Aston Villa Football Club. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  12. "Aston Villa confirm Neil Cutler departure". Aston Villa Football Club. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  13. "Aaron Danks Joins Coaching Staff". Middlesbrough Football Club. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  14. "Ex-Aston Villa and England coach Aaron Danks joins Middlesbrough's backroom team". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  15. "Aaron Danks | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 24 October 2022.


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