Dean Holden

Dean Thomas John Holden (born 15 September 1979) is an English former footballer who is currently assistant head coach at Bristol City. He was previously manager of Oldham Athletic following the departure of manager Lee Johnson in 2015.

During a career which began at Bolton Wanderers in 1998 and ended with a two-year stint at Walsall from 2012 to 2014, Holden was a defender who was comfortable playing at right-back and centre-back. Over that sixteen-year period, he amassed 369 league appearances in representing ten clubs, scoring 22 goals.

Career
Born in Swinton, Greater Manchester, Holden started his career with Bolton Wanderers where he made 13 league appearances and scored once against Sheffield United, before moving on to Oldham Athletic after a successful loan period.

After over 100 first-team appearances for Oldham he joined Peterborough United in 2005. He was made captain but, with his contract close to expiry, he was transferred to Falkirk on 1 January 2007 for an undisclosed fee.

On 27 January 2008, Holden suffered a broken leg, after a late tackle by Celtic's Stephen McManus, during Falkirk's 1–0 home defeat, leaving him out of action until October.

Holden signed a two-year contract with Shrewsbury Town on 26 June 2009. On 5 August 2010 Holden signed on loan at Rotherham United, initially for only one month but this was extended twice until he was recalled early by Shrewsbury on 20 October. On 31 January 2011, Holden had his contract cancelled by mutual agreement and he became a free agent.

Chesterfield signed Holden on 3 February 2011 in a short-term contract until the end of the season. Holden then signed a new one-year deal with Chesterfield on 18 May 2011.

On 3 November 2011, Holden joined Rochdale on loan until January 2012. In January 2012, Holden made his loan switch permanent on a six-month contract. In May 2012, Holden was released from Rochdale after being told his contract would not be renewed.

On 16 July 2012, Dean Holden signed a one-year deal at League One side Walsall.

On 14 November 2014, Holden left Walsall to join former club Oldham Athletic as first-team coach.

On 17 March 2015, after a spell as caretaker manager, Holden became full-time manager at
Oldham Athletic.

Honours

Chesterfield
Football League 2 winner 2010/11

International

Despite his English birth and having played for the England youth team, Holden qualifies to represent Northern Ireland through his grandparents, and was called up to their full squad for the first time in June 2007.

Personal life
In June 2006, Holden married television presenter Danielle Nicholls. They live in Worsley and have four children. In 2012 their youngest child died after contracting meningococcal sepsis, while the family were on holiday in Lanzarote.

References

External links

Profile at UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database

Category:1979 births
Category:People from Swinton, Greater Manchester
Category:Living people
Category:English footballers
Category:Association footballers from Northern Ireland
Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. players
Category:Valur players
Category:Oldham Athletic A.F.C. players
Category:Peterborough United F.C. players
Category:Falkirk F.C. players
Category:Shrewsbury Town F.C. players
Category:Rotherham United F.C. players
Category:Chesterfield F.C. players
Category:Rochdale A.F.C. players
Category:Walsall F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:English expatriates in Iceland
Category:Scottish Premier League players
Category:Expatriate footballers in Iceland
Category:English Football League managers
Category:Oldham Athletic A.F.C. managers
Category:Walsall F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Bristol City F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Association football defenders
Category:English football managers