| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dean Austin | ||
| Date of birth | 26 April 1970 | ||
| Place of birth | Hemel Hempstead, England | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | None | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1987–1989 | Watford | ||
| St Albans | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1989–1990 | St Albans | 75 | (9) |
| 1990–1992 | Southend United | 96 | (2) |
| 1992–1998 | Tottenham | 124 | (0) |
| 1998–2002 | Crystal Palace | 142 | (6) |
| 2002–2003 | Woking | 17 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Dean Austin (born 26 April 1970 in Hemel Hempstead) is an English former footballer who played as a defender.
He started his career at St Albans and went on to play for Southend United, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace. He retired after the 2002–03 season while at Woking and has since worked as a coach.
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At the age of 12, Austin managed to get on the Watford books and also played for Sunday League side Forest United. At the age of 17, he came back to Watford and played for the under-18s. He then joined non-league side St Albans City.
Austin was signed by Southend manager David Webb from St Albans for £14,000 in 1990 and made his debut on 10 April, as the Shrimpers held Burnley to a 0–0 draw.[1] He went on to play the last 7 games of the 1989/90 season as Southend were automatically promoted to the Third division [2] after defeating Peterborough 2–0 on the final day of the season. He scored his first goal for the club on 4 September 1990 in the Rumblelows Cup against Aldershot. In the 1990/91 season he received an injury and was forced to miss out on the beginning of the season, but after recovering he became an integral part of the team as Southend just missed out on the Division 3 title. He scored two more goals for Southend in the 1991/92 season, both in the league. Southend had briefly topped the Second Division after the early Boxing Day games but eventually fell away to mid table in their first season at this level, ending hopes of a unqiue third successive promotion and a place in the new FA Premier League.[3]
His form attracted interest from bigger clubs and midway through the season Derby County approached Austin, but he felt he could hold out for bigger clubs. He ended up being signed by Tottenham Hotspur, the club he supported as a child by manager Terry Venables for £375,000. In all competitions, he had made 109 appearances for Southend, scoring three goals.[4]
Austin made his debut on 22 August 1992. His first season at Spurs was rather successful, Tottenham finished in 8th place. But then, in 1993 Osvaldo Ardiles took over and with his 5-man attacking line-up Austin wasn't given much of a chance in the team and Spurs only just avoided relegation. However, next season he was back in the team and under Gerry Francis Tottenham reached the semi-final of the FA Cup, only to lose to eventual winners Everton 4–1.[5] However, in 1996 he had serious knee injuries which limited his appearances in the team and in 1998 he was sold to Crystal Palace. In all competitions, he made 154 appearances for Tottenham and did not score a single goal. In a Times Online article in 2007, he was named number 35 on the list of 50 worst Premier League footballers. Often referred to as the black Simon Evans.[6]
Austin linked up with former manager Terry Venables at Palace, although Venables only stayed for six months. After not playing for 18 months, Austin failed to find his place in the team until several players left because of the Eagles' financial troubles,[7] opening the door for Austin. He marked his return to the club by scoring the winner against Norwich City.[8] The club, however went into administration in 1999 and defied the odds, staying up in Division 1 despite being tipped to go down. He was later named club captain and then joined Woking. There were also rumours of him returning to Roots Hall.
Austin spent the last season of his career with Woking. He was appointed club captain by manager Glenn Cockerill as the club narrowly avoided relegation from the Conference National. At the age of 33 he was unable to sign a new deal,[9] and retired shortly after.
Austin briefly managed at Conference South level and dabbled in agency work.
In May 2007 Austin rejoined his old club Southend United as a coach under Steve Tilson. In November 2008, Austin joined up with the newly-appointed Watford manager, Brendan Rodgers as his assistant, and followed Rodgers to Reading the following August. Austin departed from the Royals that December when Rodgers was sacked, and only get back into football in June 2010, when he was appointed as a coach by George Burley at another former club, Crystal Palace, but his tenure there last just eleven months. He was sacked by the Eagles in May 2011 after allegations of a disagreement between him and Burley's replacement as Palace boss, Dougie Freedman.[10]