David Platt

David Platt
Egghead06 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	David Platt
Fullname	David Andrew Platt
Birth date	1966-06-10
Birth place	Chadderton, Lancashire, England
Height	1.83 m
Position	Midfielder
Youthclubs	Manchester United
Years1	1984–1988
Clubs1	Crewe Alexandra
Caps1	71
Goals1	12
Years2	1988–1991
Clubs2	Aston Villa
Caps2	92
Goals2	31
Years3	1991–1992
Clubs3	Bari
Caps3	29
Goals3	11
Years4	1992–1993
Clubs4	Juventus
Caps4	16
Years5	1993–1995
Clubs5	Sampdoria
Caps5	48
Goals5	14
Years6	1995–1998
Clubs6	Arsenal
Caps6	57
Goals6	14
Years7	1998–1999
Clubs7	Nottingham Forest
Caps7	30
Totalcaps	343
Totalgoals	91
Nationalyears1	1989–1996
Nationalteam1	England
Nationalcaps1	62
Nationalgoals1	27
Manageryears1	2009–2011
Managerclubs1	England U21 (assistant)
Manageryears2	2012–2013
Managerclubs2	Manchester City (assistant)
Manageryears3	2013
Managerclubs3	Sampdoria (manager)
Manageryears4	2014–2017
Managerclubs4	England U21

David Platt (born 10 June 1966) is an English former professional footballer and coach who played as a midfielder and later worked in management and coaching. He rose from lower-division English football to prominence with Aston Villa before moving to Serie A with Bari, Juventus and Sampdoria, then returning to the Premier League with Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. Internationally he earned over 60 caps for England, featuring at major tournaments and becoming noted for goal-scoring from midfield.

Early life and education

Born in Chadderton, Lancashire, he attended local schools near Oldham and began his youth career at Manchester United before moving into senior football at Crewe Alexandra. His early development involved working under managers associated with English Football League clubs and training at grounds used by teams such as Burton Albion and Bury F.C. during youth matches. Contacts made in the youth system exposed him to coaching influences from figures connected to FA Youth Cup competitions and regional coaching schemes tied to Lancashire County FA.

Professional football career

He made his senior debut with Crewe Alexandra in the mid-1980s before transferring to Aston Villa where he helped the club contend in the Football League First Division and reach domestic cup finals. His performances earned a move to Italy with AS Bari in Serie A, where he played under managers who had previously coached at clubs like AC Milan and Inter Milan. Subsequent transfers took him to Juventus and UC Sampdoria, competing in campaigns against teams such as AC Milan, SS Lazio, Fiorentina, and SSC Napoli. Returning to England, he signed for Arsenal and later Nottingham Forest, participating in Premier League seasons featuring contests with Manchester United, Liverpool F.C., Chelsea F.C., and Tottenham Hotspur.

Coaching and managerial career

After retiring as a player he moved into coaching and management, taking roles within the England national under-21 football team setup and serving on coaching staffs linked to clubs including Manchester City. He was appointed manager of UC Sampdoria for a spell, working amid the tactical traditions of Serie A and the administrative environment of FIGC. Later he became head coach of the England national under-21 football team, overseeing squads featuring players who progressed to senior international duty and who had come through academies such as Chelsea F.C. Academy, Manchester United Academy, Arsenal Academy, and Liverpool F.C. Academy.

International career

He made his senior England debut in 1989 and featured in qualifying campaigns and major tournaments for England national football team, scoring goals in qualifiers and tournament finals. He played at UEFA Euro 1992 and FIFA World Cup cycles, contributing to matches against nations including Germany national football team, Belgium national football team, Netherlands national football team, and Spain national football team. His goalscoring record placed him among notable England midfield scorers of his era, alongside contemporaries from clubs such as Aston Villa, Arsenal, and Juventus.

Playing style and reception

As a midfielder he combined late runs into the box with aerial ability and long-range shooting, drawing comparisons in media coverage to goal-scoring midfielders from clubs like Nottingham Forest and Southampton F.C.. Analysts from publications covering Premier League and Serie A matches highlighted his tactical adaptation when moving between English and Italian football cultures, with commentary referencing managers from Aston Villa and Juventus eras. Pundits on broadcasts involving BBC Sport, Sky Sports, and international outlets discussed his work-rate, finishing, and timing in relation to peers from England national football team squads.

Personal life

He has family ties to the Greater Manchester area and has been involved in charitable activities alongside figures from clubs such as Arsenal and Aston Villa. Off the pitch he has participated in events connected to organizations like Professional Footballers' Association and alumni gatherings of former players from Manchester United and Nottingham Forest. His post-playing interests have included media appearances on outlets that cover UEFA Champions League and domestic cup competitions.

Career statistics and honors

Club career totals include over 300 league appearances and around 90 league goals across English and Italian clubs including Crewe Alexandra, Aston Villa, AS Bari, Juventus, UC Sampdoria, Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest. Internationally he earned 62 caps and scored 27 goals for England national football team. Individual recognitions and team achievements during his career include selections to provisional squads for major tournaments and contributions to cup runs in competitions such as the FA Cup and domestic league campaigns. Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:English footballers