Gary Rowett

Gary Rowett enjoyed a long playing career as a defender and played for four of the clubs he has subsequently managed: Burton Albion, Birmingham City, Derby County and Leicester City. Starting his coaching career in 2009 as assistant manager at Burton Albion, he was appointed to the top job in 2012 and he led the team to a fourth place finish and the League Two play-off semi-finals the following year. He was appointed manager of struggling Championship side Birmingham City in October 2014 and was highly regarded for his transformation of the team before his departure in December 2016, leaving with the club seventh in the table. He became Derby County manager in March 2017 and spent 14 months at Pride Park before taking charge of Stoke City in May 2018. He managed Millwall, from 2019 to 2023, before returning to Birmingham City as interim manager in 2024. Rowett joined Oxford United in December 2024, helping the club avoid relegation from the Championship. In February 2026 Rowett was appointed as manager of Leicester City until the end of the 2025–26 season.