Shaun Derry Explained

Shaun Derry
Upright:0.9
Fullname:Shaun Peter Derry
Birth Date:6 December 1977
Birth Place:Nottingham, England
Height:1.86 m[1]
Position:Midfielder
Years1:1995–1998
Years2:1998–2000
Years3:2000–2002
Years4:2002–2005
Years5:2004–2005
Years6:2005–2008
Years7:2007–2008
Years8:2008–2010
Years9:2010–2013
Years10:2013
Years11:2014–2015
Clubs1:Notts County
Clubs2:Sheffield United
Clubs3:Portsmouth
Clubs4:Crystal Palace
Clubs5:Nottingham Forest (loan)
Clubs6:Leeds United
Clubs7:Crystal Palace (loan)
Clubs8:Crystal Palace
Clubs9:Queens Park Rangers
Clubs10:Millwall (loan)
Clubs11:Notts County
Caps1:82
Goals1:4
Caps2:72
Goals2:0
Caps3:49
Goals3:1
Caps4:83
Goals4:3
Caps5:7
Goals5:0
Caps6:71
Goals6:3
Caps7:30
Goals7:0
Caps8:85
Goals8:0
Caps9:92
Goals9:1
Caps10:7
Caps11:0
Goals11:0
Goals10:0
Totalcaps:578
Totalgoals:12
Manageryears1:2013–2015
Managerclubs1:Notts County
Manageryears2:2015–2018
Managerclubs2:Cambridge United
Manageryears3:2018–2019
Managerclubs3:Oxford United (first team coach)
Manageryears4:2022–2023
Managerclubs4:Crystal Palace (first team coach)
Manageryears5:2023–
Managerclubs5:Wolverhampton Wanderers (first team coach)

Shaun Peter Derry (born 6 December 1977) is an English former professional footballer and manager, who is currently first team coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He previously managed Notts County and Cambridge United, and played for Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Queens Park Rangers among other clubs. Derry was known for his hard-tackling and aggressive midfield style, and was primarily a defensive midfielder but could also play at right-back.

Playing career

Early career

Born in Nottingham, Derry started his career at Notts County as a trainee[2] before being bought by Sheffield United in 1998 for a fee of £700,000. He scored once during his spell at Sheffield United, his goal coming in the FA Cup against Rushden & Diamonds.[3]

Portsmouth

Derry was sold to Portsmouth in 2000 for £300,000. He was a regular in the side under both Tony Pulis and Steve Claridge before being made team captain by Graham Rix. After Rix's departure, Derry was amongst the many players deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Harry Redknapp in summer 2002 rebuilding and was sold to Crystal Palace for £400,001. He scored only once during his spell at Portsmouth, his goal coming in a crucial win over against West Bromwich Albion.[4]

Crystal Palace

Derry helped Crystal Palace in their return to the Premier League in 2004, making 44 appearances including an appearance in the 2004 First Division play-off final.[5] It was his corner that led to Darren Powell scoring a 90th-minute header to send the Eagles to extra-time in the semi-final, which they would win on penalties. He struggled to get into the team during the 2004–05 season and, after a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, Leeds signed him for an undisclosed amount in February 2005.[6]

Leeds United

Derry's first goal for Leeds United came on his home debut against West Ham United, sealing a 2–1 victory against the Hammers. Derry was a regular in the Leeds starting eleven in season 2005–06, becoming a vital part of the squad as they pushed for promotion back into the Premier League and a cult hero with the Leeds fans for his passionate displays. Derry was part of the Leeds team which reached the Championship Playoff finals, but Leeds ended up on the wrong end of a 3–0 defeat to confine them to another season in the Championship. In August 2006 he pledged his future to the club, signing a contract extension until July 2009.[7]

Leeds' manager Kevin Blackwell was sacked after a poor start to the 2006–07 season. In October 2006, new Leeds manager Dennis Wise revealed Derry as the new vice captain of the club, with Kevin Nicholls made captain.[8] Derry was once again a regular in the Leeds team in the 2006–07 season. A hernia and Achilles tendon injury in January 2007 saw Derry being ruled out for the rest of the season.[9] Derry's fitness returned the following season as Leeds prepared for life in League One.[10] However, he did not feature for the club again and returned to former club Palace on loan in November 2007.

Back to Palace

Further doubts about the midfielder's future at the Elland Road club arose when it was reported that Derry had declined Wise's offer to return and feature in the home tie against Oldham Athletic on New Year's Day 2008 with Leeds' missing midfielders due to injuries.[11] It was later revealed that it was actually manager Neil Warnock who blocked Derry's return to Leeds rather than Derry himself.[12]

Shortly after his loan spell concluded, Derry made his move back to Palace a permanent one, signing for the club on a three-year deal.[13] for £150,000.

In his second season back at the club he was named club captain after the departure of former captain Mark Hudson to Charlton.[14] He held the position for the next two seasons.

In the 2009–10 season, Derry played every minute of every match for Crystal Palace. The season was an eventful one during which Palace were placed into administration,[15] leading to the departure of Neil Warnock to Queens Park Rangers[16] and a fight to avoid relegation to League One. This was finally achieved on the last day of the season, 2 May 2010 after an away 2–2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday.[17]

Queens Park Rangers

Derry departed from Selhurst Park at the end of the season to reunite with Warnock at his new club Queens Park Rangers signing a two-year contract, on a free transfer, after his contract at Palace had expired. On 21 March 2012 Derry scored his first league goal for the club, and his only in the Premier League, in the 3–2 win over Liverpool.[18] Derry, alongside his former Crystal Palace teammate Clint Hill, won much respect from QPR fans for his tireless work ethic and leadership on the pitch throughout the Championship title-winning season and the subsequent 2 years in the Premier League.

On 21 January 2013, Derry signed a one-year contract extension with QPR, keeping him at the club until 2014.[19] On 8 August 2013, Derry joined Millwall on a 28-day loan.[20]

Managerial career

Notts County

Derry was appointed manager at Notts County on 6 November 2013.[21] Despite looking destined for relegation, Derry secured Notts's League One status with six wins from the last nine games, a draw on last day of season kept County up by three points.[22] He was sacked on 23 March 2015 with Notts County one place above the relegation positions in League One on goal difference and having won only three games in their previous 24 league matches.[23]

Cambridge United

Derry was appointed manager of League Two club Cambridge United on 12 November 2015.[24] On 9 February 2018, following a poor run of form, Derry left the club by mutual consent.[25]

Oxford United

In June 2018, Oxford United announced Derry's appointment as first-team coach, under manager Karl Robinson.[26] Derry played, and scored a penalty, during a pre-season friendly victory over Irish club Longford Town in July 2018.[27]

Crystal Palace

In September 2019, Derry returned to Crystal Palace as professional development coach in the club's academy system.[28]

Derry was promoted to first team coach under manager Patrick Vieira, but left this role in January 2023.[29]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Derry joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2023 as a first-team coach, forming part of Gary O'Neil's coaching team.[30]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Notts County1995–96Second Division1500000150
1996–973923020442
1997–98Third Division2823130343
Total824615000935
Sheffield United1997–98First Division1200000120
1998–992604000300
1999–003403140411
Total720714000831
Portsmouth1999–00First Division91000091
2000–012801040330
2001–021201000130
Total491204000551
Crystal Palace2002–03First Division3914020451
2003–04372004030442
2004–05Premier League700030100
Total833409030993
Nottingham Forest (loan)2004–05Championship70100080
Leeds United2004–05Championship720000colspan="2"-72
2005–06410101030460
2006–072311010251
Total713202030783
Crystal Palace (loan)2007–08Championship300000020320
Crystal Palace2008–09Championship3902010420
2009–104605020530
Total11507030201270
Queens Park Rangers2010–11Championship4501010colspan="2"-470
2011–12Premier League2912010colspan="2"-321
2012–131801000190
2013–14Championship00001010
Total921403000991
Millwall (loan)2013–14Championship70000070
Career total578122723008064914

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamFromToRecord
Notts County6 November 201323 March 2015
Cambridge United12 November 20159 February 2018[31] [32]
Total

Honours

Crystal Palace

2003–04

Queens Park Rangers

2010–11[33]

Individual

December 2015[34]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Premier League Player Profile . 2011 . Premier League . 17 May 2012.
  2. http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/article/who-are-ya-shaun-derry-1159192.aspx Who Are Ya!? Shaun Derry
  3. News: Bent shatters Diamonds in shoot-out . . 21 December 1999 . 14 February 2010 . Phil . Shaw.
  4. Web site: Portsmouth 2 West Brom 0 . Sporting Life . 21 March 2000 . 14 February 2010.
  5. News: Crystal Palace 1-0 West Ham United . 29 May 2004 . BBC Sport . 7 November 2013.
  6. Web site: Leeds seal Derry swoop . 22 June 2007 . 18 February 2005 . James Pearson. Sky Sports.
  7. Web site: Derry pens Whites extension . 22 June 2007. 8 August 2006 . James Pearson . Sky Sports.
  8. Web site: Wise makes Nicholls captain . https://archive.today/20070929210414/http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=424717&CPID=10&clid=2&lid=2&title=Wise+makes+Nicholls+captain . dead . 29 September 2007 . 26 October 2006 . James Pearson . Sky Sports .
  9. News: Derry all set for return . Yorkshire Evening Post . 8 June 2007 . 7 November 2013.
  10. http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/Final-score-Hull-City-21.4023824.jp?articlepage=2 Hull City 2–1 Crystal Palace: Brown believes in top flight dream
  11. Web site: Wise rage at Derry 'snub' . www1.skysports.com . 2 January 2008 . 7 November 2013.
  12. Web site: Warnock: I blocked Derry return. 22 January 2008 . Yorkshire Evening Post.
  13. News: Derry signs permanent Palace deal. 3 January 2008 . Yorkshire Evening Post.
  14. News: Derry named new Eagles skipper . Croydon Advertiser . 5 August 2008 . 7 November 2013.
  15. News: Crystal Palace put into administration as new buyer is sought . The Guardian . 26 January 2010 . 7 November 2013.
  16. News: Crystal Palace dealt blow by Neil Warnock's switch to QPR . The Guardian . 1 March 2010 . 7 November 2013.
  17. Web site: Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Crystal Palace . BBC Sport . 2 May 2010 . 7 November 2013.
  18. Web site: Premier League – Team of the Week: Dominant Derry . Yahoo! Sport . 22 March 2012 . 25 March 2012.
  19. News: Shaun Derry signs one-year contract extension at QPR . The Guardian . 21 January 2013 . 22 January 2013.
  20. News: Derry Moves To The Den. QPR Official Website. 8 August 2013. 8 August 2013.
  21. News: Notts County name Shaun Derry as player-manager. BBC Sport. 6 November 2013. 6 November 2013.
  22. http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/match-report/?matchid=3633238&tcmuri=923276 The Great Escape with a final day 1-1 draw with Oldham Athletic
  23. News: Shaun Derry: Notts County sack manager . BBC Sport . 23 March 2015.
  24. News: Shaun Derry: Cambridge United appoint ex-Notts County manager . BBC Sport . 12 November 2015 . 12 November 2015.
  25. News: Shaun Derry: Cambridge United head coach leaves by mutual consent . BBC Sport . 9 February 2018 . 9 February 2018.
  26. Web site: Shaun Derry Joins Oxford United . Oxford United F.C. . 6 June 2018 . 11 June 2018.
  27. News: Longford Town 1 (Dillon 33), Oxford United 5 (McMahon 15, Obika 33 & 58, Napa 55, Derry pen 85) . David . Pritchard . Oxford Mail . 10 July 2018 . 11 July 2018.
  28. Web site: Shaun Derry joins Academy. Crystal Palace F.C.. 4 September 2019. 4 September 2019.
  29. Web site: Crystal Palace coach Shaun Derry leaves role at Premier League club. The Athletic. 31 January 2023. 18 March 2023.
  30. Web site: New faces added to O’Neil’s backroom staff Club News . 2023-09-19 . Wolverhampton Wanderers FC . en.
  31. Web site: Managers: Shaun Derry . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 31 May 2017.
  32. News: Shaun Derry: Cambridge United head coach leaves by mutual consent . BBC Sport . 9 February 2018.
  33. News: Joy and relief for QPR after FA clear the path to promotion . The Guardian. 7 May 2011 . 29 May 2024.
  34. News: Shaun Derry named Sky Bet League 2 Manager of the Month . EFL . 8 January 2016 . 4 October 2022.