26 Facts About Dean Shiels

Dean Andrew Shiels was born on 1 February 1985 and is a Northern Irish former footballer and current manager of Coleraine.

Dean Shiels played for Hibernian, Doncaster Rovers, Kilmarnock, Rangers, Dundalk, FC Edmonton and Dunfermline Athletic, and made 14 full international appearances for Northern Ireland.

Dean Shiels's father is Kenny Shiels, who was his manager at Kilmarnock.

In early 2006, Dean Shiels had an operation to remove his right eye, which had been blind since a domestic accident when he was eight years old.

Dean Shiels returned to action after his eye operation later in 2006.

Dean Shiels was loaned to Kilmarnock in July 2011 and his contract was mutually terminated in January 2012.

Dean Shiels signed a six-month loan deal with Kilmarnock, managed by his father Kenny Dean Shiels, in July 2011.

Dean Shiels made his first appearance for Kilmarnock on 30 July 2011, in a goalless draw against Motherwell at Rugby Park, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute.

Dean Shiels signed for Kilmarnock on a permanent basis in January 2012.

Dean Shiels was shortlisted for the SPFA Players' Player of the Year award, along with Jon Daly, Steven Davis and Charlie Mulgrew.

Dean Shiels rejected the offer of a new contract with Kilmarnock and left the club at the end of the season.

Dean Shiels vowed to help the club win a trophy that season and claimed he had turned down other clubs around Europe and could have played in the Champions League; instead, preferring to join Rangers.

On 10 June 2016, Dean Shiels left Rangers after his contract came to an end.

Dean Shiels had made 43 appearances for Rangers in his final season with the club, as they won promotion to the Scottish Premiership.

On 25 August 2016, Dean Shiels signed for Dundalk in the League of Ireland Premier Division citing the "lure of European football" as one of the things that attracted him to the club.

Dean Shiels left the club at the end of the 2016 season.

In February 2017, Dean Shiels signed for FC Edmonton of the North American Soccer League.

Dean Shiels left Dunfermline at the end of his contract, having played 25 times for the side.

Shortly after leaving Dunfermline, Dean Shiels signed an 18-month pre-contract with League of Ireland Premier Division side Derry City, where he would play under his father.

On 30 January 2019, it was announced that Dean Shiels had joined Coleraine on an 18-month contract.

Dean Shiels won his first Northern Ireland cap against Portugal in November 2005.

Dean Shiels was recalled to the squad for the match against Scotland in August 2008 after an absence of 18 months.

Dean Shiels appeared as a second-half substitute in the goalless draw at Hampden Park.

On 5 March 2021, it was announced that Dean Shiels had been appointed manager of Dungannon Swifts, following the departure of Kris Lindsay.

On 4 April 2024, Dean Shiels was appointed as a first-team coach at Coleraine.

In May 2024, it was confirmed that Dean Shiels would become head coach at Coleraine following a restructuring of the management team which saw previous manager Oran Kearney move into a sporting director position.