19 Facts About Wally Downes

1.

Walter John Downes was born on 9 June 1961 and is an English professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder.

2.

Wally Downes was the manager of Brentford between 2002 and 2004.

3.

Wally Downes is the nephew of former world middleweight boxing champion Terry Downes.

4.

Wally Downes started out as an apprentice with Wimbledon and was their first ever full-time Football League apprentice.

5.

Wally Downes is often cited as being the main instigator of the Crazy Gang spirit at the club, as it rose from the Fourth to the First Division inside a decade.

6.

Wally Downes took a coaching position at Crystal Palace, and spent 12 years at Selhurst Park, most of these under Steve Coppell.

7.

In January 2007, Wally Downes was involved in a touchline scuffle with Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock after he accused Warnock of telling his players to 'break legs'.

Related searches
Alan Pardew Harry Redknapp
8.

On 7 September 2009, Wally Downes was appointed to a position within the backroom staff of League 1 club, Southampton.

9.

Wally Downes was dismissed along with Alan Pardew on 30 August 2010.

10.

Wally Downes's appointment came a day after the West Ham board sacked assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic.

11.

In May 2011, shortly after West Ham were relegated from the Premier League, Grant was sacked however Wally Downes kept his job and was named first team coach when new manager Sam Allardyce took over.

12.

Wally Downes went on to spend some time working under Harry Redknapp at Queens Park Rangers.

13.

Wally Downes subsequently coached at other Indian clubs, Kerala Blasters and ATK.

14.

Wally Downes left Crystal Palace in 2000 and joined Brentford as assistant manager.

15.

When Coppell left Brentford in June 2002, Wally Downes was appointed manager.

16.

Wally Downes had an unbeaten start to his reign in August 2002, winning the Division Two Manager of the Month award.

17.

On 4 December 2018, Wally Downes took over after Neal Ardley had left the club by mutual consent.

18.

When Wally Downes was appointed, Wimbledon were six points from avoiding relegation from League One.

19.

Under Wally Downes they won 21 points from their last 12 matches and successfully avoided relegation on the final day of the season.