Rob Edwards
Edwards in May 2023
Personal information
Full name Robert Owen Edwards[1]
Date of birth (1982-12-25) 25 December 1982[2]
Place of birth Telford, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back[3]
Team information
Current team
 Luton Town (manager)
Youth career
0000–1999 Aston Villa[4]
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 100 (1)
2008–2011 Blackpool 59 (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 213 (5)
International career
2003–2006 Wales 15 (0)
Managerial career
2016 Wolverhampton Wanderers (interim)
2017–2018 AFC Telford United
2020–2021 England U16
2021–2022 Forest Green Rovers
2022 Watford
2022– Luton Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert Owen Edwards (born 25 December 1982) is a professional football manager and former player who played as a centre-back and is currently the manager of Premier League club Luton Town. Born in England to Welsh parents, he represented Wales internationally.[5]

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 for Barnsley in the Championship before retiring due to injury in 2013. He played international football for Wales, making his debut in 2004 and winning 15 caps in total. His father also played for Wales, at U18 level.[6] He completed his coaching badges with the Football Association of Wales and moved into management after retiring as a player.[7]

Edwards managed Wolves' academy and had an interim spell at the first team, before leading AFC Telford United and the England under-16 team. He guided Forest Green Rovers to promotion as League Two champions in the 2021–22 season. Watford appointed Edwards as manager in May 2022 but he was sacked just four months later in September.[8] He joined Luton Town later that year, leading the club to promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs.[9]

Club career

Aston Villa

Edwards was born in Telford, Shropshire.[3] He 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.[10] 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.[11] Edwards went on to make nine appearances in total for Villa, all during 2002–03. He was sent on loan to First Division club 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.[12]

Edwards then joined fellow First Division club Derby County on loan in January 2004, where he stayed until the end of the season. He played ten games for the club, scoring a goal in a 2–1 home win over Gillingham on 17 January.[13]

In May 2004, Edwards was told by Aston Villa manager David O'Leary that he could leave the club.[14]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Edwards made the short journey across the West Midlands and joined Championship Wolverhampton Wanderers in July 2004 in a three-year deal for £150,000.[15] After five games in August, he suffered an ankle injury and did not return until February 2005.[16]

Edwards 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.[17] 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.[18] He scored his only goal for Wolves on 9 February 2008 in a 4–2 home defeat to Stoke City.[19] He was placed on the transfer list in May.[20]

Blackpool

On 6 August 2008, Edwards left Wolves to join Blackpool, signing a two-year contract with an option for a further year for an undisclosed fee.[21][22] 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.[23][24] 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.[25]

Edwards urged all the players to do their utmost to impress new manager Ian Holloway in June 2009.[26] On 19 July 2010, he agreed a new contract with Blackpool, a one-year deal with an option for a further 12 months.[27] Edwards explained playing in the Premier League was the reason behind him signing a new contract at the club.[28] On 10 November 2010, Edwards made his first Premier League appearance since 2003 in a 3–2 loss at his former club Aston Villa.[29]

On 21 February 2011, Edwards signed for Championship team Norwich City on loan until the end of the season.[30] He made his debut as a second-half substitute for Zak Whitbread in the 1–1 draw against Preston North End on 5 March, and made two more appearances as the club won 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.[31] Edwards made his debut for the club in a 0–0 draw against Nottingham Forest on 21 February 2012.

Unused by Barnsley, Edwards was loaned to League Two club Fleetwood Town in 2012. The following 31 January, he returned to his home county and joined League One team Shrewsbury Town on loan for a month.[32] Days after the deal was expanded for the rest of the season, he was ruled out with a thigh muscle injury in training.[33]

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.[34] 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.[35]

Coaching career

Early years

Edwards during Jody Craddock's testimonial match in 2014

On 11 October 2013, Edwards announced that he had retired from professional football at the age of 30.[36] He became Under-18s coach at Wolves, and his first season in charge (2014–15) was considered very successful by local newspaper Express & Star.[37] He was promoted to help Head Coach Kenny Jackett for the final two months of the season, and then 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 Wolves following the sacking of Walter Zenga.[38] He took charge of two games – a 1–1 draw at Blackburn Rovers, followed by a 2–3 defeat to Derby – before Paul Lambert took charge. Edwards remained at the club in the role of first team coach until the conclusion of the season when he departed alongside Lambert.[39]

On 28 June 2017, Edwards was named as the new manager of his hometown club AFC Telford United.[40] The Bucks finished in 14th place in the National League North, 10 points outside the play-offs. Edwards left by mutual consent at the end of the season.[41]

Edwards was appointed as the head coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers U23 on 20 July 2018.[42] In his first season in charge, he led them to promotion to Premier League 2 Division 1, the highest level of youth football, for the first time in their history.[43]

In October 2019, Edwards left Wolves to take up a 'prestigious role' with The Football Association working as a coach with the England U20s.[44] On 24 September 2020, he was appointed as head coach for the England under-16 team.[45]

Forest Green Rovers

On 27 May 2021, Edwards was appointed Head Coach of League Two side Forest Green Rovers, joining the role on 4 June in order to be able to finish the season with his England sides.[46] After picking up four wins from his first five matches, Edwards was awarded the EFL League Two Manager of the Month award for August 2021 with his star striker Matty Stevens winning the Player of the Month award.[47] He won the award for a second time for November following three wins from three.[48]

Edwards then won the manager of the month award for a third time for January 2022 after picking up 14 points from six matches, including a 4–0 win away at second-placed Tranmere Rovers, moving ten points clear at the top of the league.[49] On 23 April, Forest Green drew 0–0 away at Bristol Rovers to secure promotion to League One for the first time in the club's history.[50] The following day, Edwards was named the 2021–22 EFL League Two Manager of the Season at the league's annual awards ceremony.[51] On 11 May, he departed the club following negotiations with Watford.[52]

Watford

On 11 May 2022, Edwards was announced as the new head coach of Watford, taking over from Roy Hodgson at the conclusion of the 2021–22 season.[53] His first game on 1 August was a 1–0 home win over Sheffield United with a goal by João Pedro.[54]

On 26 September 2022, Edwards was sacked as head coach after winning three out of ten league games and with Watford in 10th place. Slaven Bilic succeeded him on the same day.[8]

Luton Town

On 17 November 2022, Edwards was appointed manager of Championship club Luton Town, rivals of Edwards' previous club Watford.[55] In his first season at the club, he guided Luton to the Premier League, via the play-off final against Coventry City, through a third-place finish in the Championship and a two legged play-off semi-final win over Sunderland.[56] His Luton Town team subsequently beat Coventry in the EFL Championship playoff final, drawing 1-1 after extra time, and winning 6–5 on penalties.[9]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa 2002–03[57] Premier League 8010000090
2003–04[58] Premier League 000000—00
Total 8010000090
Crystal Palace (loan) 2003–04[58] First Division 710000—71
Derby County (loan) 2003–04[58] First Division 1110000—111
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2004–05[59] Championship 1700010—180
2005–06[60] Championship 4201020—450
2006–07[61] Championship 330201000360
2007–08[62] Championship 812020—121
Total 10015060001111
Blackpool 2008–09[63] Championship 3620010—372
2009–10[64] Championship 21010301[lower-alpha 1]0260
2010–11[65] Premier League 201010—40
Total 592205010672
Norwich City (loan) 2010–11[65] Championship 30———30
Barnsley 2011–12[66] Championship 1700010—180
2012–13[67] Championship 000000—00
Total 1700010—180
Fleetwood Town (loan) 2012–13[67] League Two 4010——50
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2012–13[67] League One 40———40
Career total 213590120102355

Managerial statistics

As of match played 16 January 2024[68]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Wolverhampton Wanderers (interim) 25 October 2016 5 November 2016 2 0 1 1 000.00
AFC Telford United 30 June 2017 4 May 2018 49 20 6 23 040.82
England U16 24 September 2020 5 June 2021 2 1 0 1 050.00
Forest Green Rovers 5 June 2021 11 May 2022 53 24 19 10 045.28
Watford 23 May 2022 26 September 2022 11 3 5 3 027.27
Luton Town 17 November 2022 Present 56 22 16 18 039.29
Total 170 67 47 56 039.41

Honours

As a player

Blackpool

As a manager

Forest Green Rovers

Luton Town

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "List of players given a free transfer: Barnsley" (PDF). The Football League. p. 76. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Rob Edwards: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Rob Edwards". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  4. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 418. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  5. ↑ "Generation game as Chirk football family member Edwards leads Luton Town to glory". Border Counties Advertizer. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Rob Edwards . . . The Forgotten Man of Welsh Football Now Making Rivals Envious at Forest Green". 11 April 2022.
  7. ↑ https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/football/luton-town/edwards-not-expecting-to-get-any-friendly-advice-this-time-from-reds-boss-cooper-4380317. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. 1 2 Steinberg, Jacob (26 September 2022). "Watford sack Rob Edwards as manager and appoint Slaven Bilic to replace him". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Coventry 1-1 Luton Town AET: Hatters win Championship play-off final 6-5 on penalties to reach Premier League". www.skysports.co.uk. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  10. ↑ "Premiership clockwatch". BBC Sport. 28 December 2002. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  11. ↑ "New deal for Edwards". BBC Sport. 10 January 2003. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  12. ↑ "Crystal Palace 1–1 Coventry". BBC Sport. 29 November 2003. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  13. ↑ "Derby 2–1 Gillingham". BBC Sport. 17 January 2004. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  14. ↑ "Edwards set to leave Villa". BBC Sport. 31 May 2004.
  15. ↑ "Wolves seal Edwards deal". BBC Sport. 20 April 2004.
  16. ↑ "Rob out to end injury ordeal". Birmingham Mail. 18 February 2005. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  17. ↑ "Edwards eyes return in play-offs". BBC Sport. 19 April 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  18. ↑ "Edwards sidelined by knee injury". BBC Sport. 6 September 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  19. ↑ "Wolverhampton 2–4 Stoke". BBC Sport. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  20. ↑ "Wolves have end-of-term clear-out". BBC Sport. 9 May 2008.
  21. ↑ "Edwards Arrives!". Blackpool. 7 August 2008. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  22. ↑ "Blackpool sign defender Edwards". BBC Sport. 7 August 2008.
  23. ↑ Canavan, Steve (29 August 2008). "Edwards confirmed as Pool skipper". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  24. ↑ "Edwards Named New Pool Skipper". Blackpool. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  25. ↑ Jolly, Richard (29 December 2008). "Edwards strikes late to get measure of revenge on Wolves". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  26. ↑ "Edwards out to impress". Sky Sports. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  27. ↑ "Edwards Agrees New Deal". Blackpool F.C. 19 July 2010. Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  28. ↑ "Edwards pens new Pool deal". Sky Sports. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  29. ↑ "Aston Villa 3 - 2 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  30. ↑ "Canaries swoop for Edwards". Sky Sports. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  31. ↑ "Tykes take Edwards". Sky Sports. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  32. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town: Rob Edwards joins on loan from Barnsley". BBC Sport. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  33. ↑ "Rob Edwards out for rest of Shrewsbury loan". Shropshire Star. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  34. ↑ "Hughes targets Villa youngster". BBC Sport. 15 January 2003.
  35. ↑ "Match Report – Wales 4 – 0 Azerbaijan". Football Association of Wales. 29 March 2003. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  36. ↑ "Former Wales and Wolves defender Rob Edwards announces his retirement from playing". Sky Sports. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  37. ↑ "Rob Edwards excelling as a coach at Wolves". Express & Star. 7 November 2016.
  38. ↑ "Walter Zenga: Wolves sack head coach after 87 days in charge". BBC Sport. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  39. ↑ "Paul Lambert departs Wolves". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 30 May 2017.
  40. ↑ "AFC Telford United are delighted to announce the arrival of a new manager in Rob Edwards". AFC Telford United. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  41. ↑ "Rob Edwards leaves AFC Telford". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  42. ↑ Edwards To Lead Under 23s, wolves.co.uk, 20 June 2018
  43. ↑ Under-23s confirmed as league champions, wolves.co.uk, 29 April 2019
  44. ↑ "Rob Edwards leaves Wolves to take up FA role". Express and Star. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  45. ↑ "The coaching staff for our England teams during the 2020-21 season has been confirmed". The FA. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  46. ↑ "Rob Edwards named Forest Green Rovers Head Coach". www.fgr.co.uk. 27 May 2021.
  47. 1 2 "Edwards and Stevens scoop league accolades". www.fgr.co.uk. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  48. 1 2 "Sky Bet EFL Manager and Player of the Month: November winners!". www.efl.com. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  49. 1 2 "January's Sky Bet EFL Manager and Player of the Month winners!". www.efl.com. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  50. ↑ "Forest Green promoted to League One for first time". BBC Sport. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  51. 1 2 "Football Manager EFL Team of the Season line-ups announced". EFL.com. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  52. ↑ "FGR confirms the departure of Head Coach Rob Edwards". www.fgr.co.uk. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  53. ↑ "Club Statement: Rob Edwards". Watford F.C. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  54. ↑ "Watford 1–0 Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  55. ↑ "Rob Edwards appointed as Luton Town manager!". www.lutontown.co.uk. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  56. ↑ "'Remarkable' for Luton to reach play-off final - Pleat". BBC Sport. 16 May 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  57. ↑ "Games played by Rob Edwards in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  58. 1 2 3 "Games played by Rob Edwards in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  59. ↑ "Games played by Rob Edwards in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  60. ↑ "Games played by Rob Edwards in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  61. ↑ "Games played by Rob Edwards in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  62. ↑ "Games played by Rob Edwards in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  63. ↑ "Games played by Rob Edwards in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  64. ↑ "Games played by Rob Edwards in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  65. 1 2 "Games played by Rob Edwards in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  66. ↑ "Games played by Rob Edwards in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  67. 1 2 3 "Games played by Rob Edwards in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  68. ↑ "Managers: Rob Edwards". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  69. ↑ Fletcher, Paul (22 May 2010). "Blackpool 3–2 Cardiff". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  70. ↑ "Forest Green: How Rob Edwards' Rovers secured 'fairy tale' promotion to League One". Sky Sports.
  71. ↑ "Luton win shootout to reach Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
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