22 Facts About Dean Austin

Dean Austin notably played in the Football League for Crystal Palace where he made the most appearances of his career.

At the age of 12, Dean Austin managed to get on the Watford books and played for Sunday League side Forest United.

Dean Austin scored his first goal for the club on 4 September 1990 in the Rumblelows Cup against Aldershot.

Dean Austin's 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.

Dean Austin made his debut on 22 August 1992 coming on as a sub for Terry Fenwick in a Premier League match against Crystal Palace.

Towards the end of this season Dean Austin suffered a knee injury which resulted in three operations.

Dean Austin saw out his contract and was reunited with Terry Venables at Crystal Palace under the Bosman ruling.

Dean Austin linked up with former manager Terry Venables at Crystal Palace, although Venables only stayed for six months.

The first six months were particularly difficult but after 18 months Dean Austin became a firm fans favourite when he alone decided to stay at the club when Palace entered administration.

Dean Austin accepted a massive pay cut, and he marked his return to the team by scoring the winner against Norwich City.

Dean Austin was appointed club captain by Cockerill as the club narrowly avoided relegation from the Football Conference on his 33rd birthday and Austin decided then and there to call time on his playing career and retired from playing.

Dean Austin was an integral part of Southend winning two successive promotions from League Two into the Championship and was responsible for developing young players such as Michael Kightly, Stuart O'Keefe and Gary Hooper.

The whole team were relieved of their duties in December 2009 and in 2010 Dean Austin returned to Crystal Palace first-team coach and U21 manager.

Dean Austin left in the summer of 2011 having not been able to agree a role with the then manager Dougie Freedman.

Dean Austin decided to take a break from football at this time.

From January 2012 until February 2013, Dean Austin was a regional scout for Bolton Wanderers but left his position to join Chris Kiwomya at Notts County as assistant manager.

Dean Austin decided to leave Notts County's backroom team in May 2013 for personal reasons.

Dean Austin returned to Watford as an assistant coach in January 2015.

In September 2017, Dean Austin was appointed assistant coach of Northampton Town working alongside the newly appointed Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Dean Austin was sacked on 30 September 2018 following a poor start to the season in which the team only won one game.

In September 2019, Dean Austin returned to Watford, joining the coaching staff as an assistant to new manager Quique Sanchez Flores.

On 13 December 2022, Dean Austin was appointed head of recruitment at Coventry City.