Birmingham have taken to appoint ex-Swansea, Liverpool, Reading, Celtic, Leicester, Spurs assistant/coach/analyst Chris Davies.
The 39-year-old leaves Tottenham, where he had been Ange Postecoglou’s assistant, and signs a four year deal to manage the Blues, who are playing League One football for the first time in 29 years.
In early October 2024, with the team in the playoff places, John Eustace was sacked, a decision that shocked many, with the board stressing the need for “a winning mentality and a culture of ambition” across the club, and a new appointment with “[responsibility] for creating an identity and clear ‘no fear’ playing style”.
They brought in Wayne Rooney, but two wins from 15 matches left them in 20th place, so in came Tony Mowbray, but he need medical leave, and in his place came the interim appointment of Gary Rowett, whose 11 points from the last eight games wasn’t enough to prevent relegation.
The Club are delighted to confirm the appointment of Chris Davies as Men’s First Team Manager. 🔵
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) June 6, 2024
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) June 6, 2024
BIRMINGHAM STATEMENT:
Birmingham City can confirm the appointment of Chris Davies as Men’s First Team Manager.
Davies has signed a four-year contract and joins the Club with immediate effect from Tottenham Hotspur after the two parties agreed compensation.
He brings more than 15 years of coaching experience working at a number of leading Premier League teams, including Spurs, Liverpool and Swansea City, and Celtic in Scotland, operating alongside leading managers such as Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers.
The 39-year-old is a highly regarded coach, recognised for being tactically astute, and an excellent communicator. He is also known for working with and developing exciting young talent.
His appointment ends a robust search by the Club which saw close to 1,000 coaches being evaluated and more than 40 being spoken to directly or through their representatives.
Birmingham City Owner and Chairman of the Board, Tom Wagner, said: “I am delighted to welcome Chris to Blues. He is widely respected in the game and fulfils our goal to appoint an ambitious, progressive coach. He is motivated to help redefine the Club, the culture, and the playing identity. From our first meeting, it was clear we were aligned on values and shared the ambition for Blues. Chris will thrive in the high-performance environment that is being created at the Club. He wants to be at Birmingham City and is committed to winning.
“I would like to thank both Tom Brady for his support and involvement, and the Football Leadership Team for their diligent approach in identifying our next Manager. They have conducted a robust process and we have appointed a top operator to take us forward.”
Birmingham City Chief Executive Officer, Garry Cook, said: “Chris is an outstanding coach and person, that the playing staff and our supporters will instantly warm to. The goal was to identify a progressive coach, one who has demonstrated the ability to build teams and improve players in the squad. Chris has done this at leading clubs, being part of championship, cup and promotion winning teams, working with world class players and managers.
“He is a perfect fit for Blues. He is a meticulous planner, with an insatiable appetite for work. Known for his excellent man management skills, he will now focus on building a Championship ready squad in League One. He is the coach we wanted. Blues is the club he wanted. We are very pleased he is here.”
Birmingham City Manager, Chris Davies, said: “I am proud and honoured to be the Manager of Birmingham City. As soon as I spoke with Tom, Garry, Tom Brady, and other board members it was clear to me how passionate and committed the board and all of the Football Leadership Team are to bringing success to this club.
“It is a club with an ambition that reflects my own, and a plan to make it a reality. It is such an exciting time to be at Blues. I can’t wait to get started, meeting everyone at the Club and speaking to our supporters. I will give everything to build an attacking team that reflects this great city, and most importantly to produce a team that our supporters can be proud of. Let’s go.”
Welcome to Blues, Chris!
We can announce that Chris Davies, our Senior Assistant Coach, has left the Club to take up the role of Manager at Birmingham City.
Wishing you all the best, Chris!
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 6, 2024
TOTTENHAM STATEMENT:
We can announce that Chris Davies, our Senior Assistant Coach, has left the Club to take up the role of Manager at Birmingham City.
Formerly with Swansea City, Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester City, Chris joined us last summer as part of Ange Postecoglou’s coaching staff.
Ange said: “Chris is an outstanding individual, he’s done some fantastic work with us in the last season and as I’ve said before, that will attract attention, so it’s no surprise to me that a club of Birmingham City’s stature have shown an interest in him.
“I’d like to thank Chris for all his hard work, and we wish him all the best.”
This is how fans reacted as Birmingham appoint then ex-Swansea, Liverpool, Reading, Celtic, Leicester, Spurs assistant/coach/analyst…
@haarper23: Excited by this. Rather take a punt on a young coach than one of the usual merry go round managers 👍 #bcfc
@ljb1875_: Skeptical but interested to see how it works out, anything other than promotion it’s a failure
@GardnersGnome: Been reading some spurs fans opinions on Chris Davies departure; safe to say they are gutted. This could genuinely be a master-stroke from blues here #BCFC
@FosseHub: He’s gonna do great for you!
@ChrisCOB_OB: Amazing appointment!!! Bold, Ambitious, Exciting and refreshing from the usual suspects. Season Tickets, New Players and we’re off! KRO 💙🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏾🙌🏿 Welcome Chris!
@Imhavingthesoup: Not one to be hyperbolic but I’d like to welcome the greatest manager in our 150 year history to the club.
@DeanWSmith79: A Great and very exciting appointment. Giving someone different a chance and not reverting to one of the same old names. Let’s get behind him now. 💙🤍
@JoshBCFC_: Announce us as League One Champions already… 😴🥱
@mynameismrjrb: Birmingham City have just entered serious club territory.
@luke420alien: Welcome gaffa, now let’s get some great players in and build a hardworking, passionate and determined team. 💪🏻💙💪🏻
@m1vry: Welcome Chris! don’t no enough about him but gets my full backing and hopefully backed in the transfer market and we have a great season mentally have to change around the club to a winning team #KRO #FEA
@MRMAXCB: A young, high quality, tactical coach. This is the direction we needed to go, not a recycled older dinosaur. What a brilliant decision from the board. Bring on the new season! KRO
@SarahWhe78: Very happy with this appointment! Welcome to Blues Chris! 💙 KRO
@bluenoseed: Great appointment. Left field but I really think this will work. Recruiting the right players and getting rid of any players who are not prepared to fight for the badge
@Brooks19732001: Birmingham going for a manager in the Keiran McKenna model, great to see good luck
@iAlexRussell: Over the moon with this. Let’s go win the league 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
@deansmith1975: Operation premiership 👍 best of luck Chris know nothing about you but happy with this front he snippets I have read
@justinbcfc92: Welcome to the club Chris!! Looking forward to the future 💙💙💙 HMS piss the league is well and truly on now
@Coach_Cee_Jay: Welcome to the club Chris! #KRO
@dc180: Hmmm… I said from the start there wouldn’t be a name that’s was exciting and experienced enough that would ever come to us, I didn’t think we’d go this far inexperienced… It’s a real big risk, hopefully it pays off 🤞#bcfc #kro
@lee_bcfc1875: Great appointment!. Welcome Chris 🔵⚪️ KRO
@ianwillis_86: Oh wow!! Not sure about this tbh I hope I’m wrong
@danperks05: MY GAFFA
@ForEverBCFC1: Announce season tickets right now also 😍
@trixy372: So the wait is over, ain’t got a clue who he is, but fills me will excitement knowing how many we interviewed and this is who the club have chosen. From what I’ve read and seen in interviews he fits the bill.. #letsgo #bcfc
@RyanDeeney2194: Welcome, Chris Davies! Any appointment this summer would have come with risks. Davies a novice but evidently rated highly in the game & speaks well. Process has been taken seriously & hopefully the board have got it right. #BCFC #KRO
@willviles: As Chris says, let’s go! Now was the right time for #bcfc to start from the ground up with a young, energetic and dynamic leader. However this works out, the board have my full backing for this decision. Can’t guarantee success, but they’ve hired CD for the right reasons.
@Jak_Collier: Up the Chris!!!
@Bradley_AJ: DAVIESSSSS WELCOME TO THE PROJECT 💙
@CallumInsull: New era begins. Really excited by this appointment, young & progressive and is very highly thought of. Done very well to seal Davies, after years of experience working with Brendan Rodgers and Spurs as an assistant, this is exciting. Let’s go! 🔵 #BCFC
@GeorgiaEH17: A gamble? Yes but any person over the summer would be glad we haven’t plucked lampard out again and it’s nice to see a new and refreshing face who can bring a different perspective to the club💙 For once I’m excited by the appointment👏🏻 #bcfc
@_Luke_Pollard: Now that a manager has been appointed, we can finally look forward to a pre-season of squad building and training in his vision. No more hodgepodge of a squad made up of different managers players. #BCFC
@Chapmann_x: Finally found our gaffer! Time to sign some new players now and can’t wait for the season to begin again #bcfc
Chris Davies’ CV as a coach/player developer.
– At Swansea when promoted to PL.
– Finishing 2nd with Liverpool.
– Won a domestic treble at Celtic.
– Finished 5th in the PL with Leicester TWICE.
– Won FA Cup with Leicester.#BCFC || #KRO pic.twitter.com/mVZCBoNrqb— Blues Hub™️ (@blueshub1875) June 6, 2024
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