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Paul Warne

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Paul Warne
BERJAYA
Warne in 2010
Personal information
Full name Paul Warne[1]
Date of birth (1973-05-08) 8 May 1973 (age 53)[1]
Place of birth Norwich, Norfolk, England
Position Midfielder[1]
Team information
Current team
 Milton Keynes Dons (head coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Great Yarmouth Town
Diss Town
1996–1997 Wroxham
1997–1999 Wigan Athletic 36 (3)
1998 → Kettering Town (loan) 10 (6)
1999–2005 Rotherham United 232 (28)
2004–2005 → Mansfield Town (loan) 7 (1)
2005–2007 Oldham Athletic 86 (18)
2007–2009 Yeovil Town 77 (5)
2009–2012 Rotherham United 29 (3)
Total 477 (64)
Managerial career
2016–2022 Rotherham United
2022–2025 Derby County
2025– Milton Keynes Dons
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paul Warne (born 8 May 1973) is an English professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of EFL League One club Milton Keynes Dons.

Warne started his playing career in his native Norfolk for Great Yarmouth Town, Diss Town and Wroxham. In the summer of 1997, Warne made the transition into full-time Football League football by joining Wigan Athletic, after a spell on loan at Kettering Town in November 1998, Warne would then join Rotherham United in January 1999, where he would spend five-and-a-half-years and help the club gain promotions from the Third Division to the First Division in three seasons. In 2004, Warne had a short loan spell at Mansfield Town. In June 2005, Warne left Rotherham after 257 appearances to join Oldham Athletic, where in two-years Warne would make 100 appearances, in August 2007 Warne joined Yeovil Town, until he left in 2009 to rejoin Rotherham United in 2009, he would retire for football in the summer of 2012.

After retirement from playing, Warne would join the coaching staff at Rotherham United, where he acted as fitness coach, in November 2016 after Kenny Jackett resigned, Warne was named interim manager of Rotherham United until the end of the 2016–17, despite relegation and difficult results during this interim spell, Warne was named full time manager in summer of 2017 and would regain promotion again by winning the 2018 EFL League One play-off final, Rotherham became a yo-yo club under Warne, with club being relegated from the Championship and in 2019 and 2021 and gaining promotion from League One in 2018, 2020 and 2022. Rotherham also won the 2022 EFL Trophy final in this third promotion season. In September 2022, Warne left Rotherham to takeover at League One Derby County as head coach. After falling short of the play-offs by just one point in 2023 and despite the club operating under considerable financial restraints after administration,[2] Warne won promotion in 2023–24 as runners-up. This earned Warne his fourth promotion from League One in his managerial career. With this, Warne became only the 8th Derby County manager to secure a promotion in the club's history[3] and the first since 2006–2007.[4] On 7 February 2025, he was sacked with Derby in the Championship relegation zone and on a run of seven consecutive defeats. On 15 April 2025, with 4 games left of the 2024–25 EFL League Two season, Milton Keynes Dons announced Warne as the new Head Coach.[5]

Playing career

[edit]

Warne was born in Norwich, Norfolk, and is a supporter of Norwich City.[1][6] He started playing non-League football for Great Yarmouth Town,[7] before moving onto Diss Town, with whom he won the FA Vase in 1994.[8] After playing for Wroxham, he started his professional career at the age of 23 when he signed for Wigan Athletic, before moving to Rotherham where he played over 250 games in all competitions, then he moved to Oldham where he became a firm fans favourite in his time there, helping the club to the League One playoffs in the 2006/2007 season, eventually moving on free transfer to Yeovil,[9] where he struggled to get amongst the goals regularly.

During the summer of 2009, after failing to agree a new deal with Yeovil,[10] he joined his former club Rotherham United on trial and impressed pre-season.[11] He subsequently signed a one-year contract with the Millers,[12] scoring on his debut on the opening day against Accrington Stanley. On 11 August 2009, he scored the equalising goal as Rotherham surprisingly beat Championship side Derby County 2–1 in the first round of the League Cup. It was made all the more of an upset by the fact that Derby had reached the semifinals of the competition the previous season. He signed a one-year contract extension in June 2010.[13]

Coaching career

[edit]

Rotherham United

[edit]

Upon his retirement as a player, Warne joined the coaching staff at Rotherham in May 2012 as a first team fitness coach.[14] In November 2012, he was award a testimonial match by the club in honour of his many years of service as a player, coach and caretaker-manager.[15]

After four years in a coaching role, Warne was appointed caretaker manager of the first team on 28 November 2016 following the resignation of Kenny Jackett.[16] On 13 January 2017, he was appointed manager until the end of the 2016–17 season.[17] On 5 April 2017, with Rotherham's relegation from the Championship confirmed, Warne was appointed on a permanent basis with a rolling one-year contract.[18]

During his time as manager, Rotherham, were relegated from and won promotion to the Championship on three occasions each, with promotions in 2018, 2020 and 2022 following relegations in 2017, 2019, and 2021. He also won the 2022 EFL Trophy.

Warne's final game as Millers manager was a 0–0 away to Middlesbrough on 17 September 2022 which left Rotherham eighth in the Championship after nine games;[19] he left the club five days later and dropped down a division to manage League One Derby County.

Derby County

[edit]

After interim manager Liam Rosenior was relieved of his duties, EFL League One side Derby County Football Club, recently saved by local businessman David Clowes, approached Rotherham United to request permission to speak to Warne.[20][21] Paul Warne was officially announced by Derby County as their new head coach on a four-year deal on 22 September 2022, after The Rams agreed a compensation package with Rotherham for Warne, alongside assistant head coach Richie Barker, first team coach Matt Hamshaw, and first team goalkeeper coach Andy Warrington.[22]

Following a stellar January 2023 that saw Derby achieve a 100% win record, Warne was awarded the League One Manager of the Month award for the third time in his career.[23] Form collapsed after this however, and Warne oversaw just six wins in the final 18 games as Derby finished the season in seventh place, the joint lowest league finish in the club history, missing out on a playoff place by one place and point.[24] Warne called the season a "failure".[25]

Warne rebuilt the squad ahead of the 2023–24 season with 12 players signed,[26] with players such as Curtis Davies,[27] David McGoldrick[28] and Jason Knight departing.[29] Derby suffered a bad start to the season, losing their first three games at Pride Park Stadium 2–1 in the league to Wigan Athletic and to Oxford United by the same score, as well as a 2–0 loss to Blackpool in the EFL Cup in between; after this defeat, Warne said that he felt like player's heads were being turned by transfer speculation.[30] Derby suffered a spate of injuries in the first two months of the season[31] and after the first 11 games of the League One season, found themselves in ninth place and ten points behind leaders Portsmouth; Warne said the club were behind their target and demanded improvement from the squad on 11 October 2023.[32] The team subsequently lost 1–0 away to Shrewsbury Town leaving the pre-season promotion favourites 11th in the table and with questions starting to arise regarding Warne's future,[33] though the club later came out in support of the manager.[34] On 14 November 2023, Derby were knocked out of the first round of the FA Cup after a first round replay at home to Crewe Alexandra, the first time the club have been eliminated at this stage since the 1984–85 season,[35] Warne found his team "unpredictable" as they impressed in a league win 3–0 at home to Barnsley three days earlier,[35] Warne called his players for an extra days training on the Thursday after the cup tie.[35] Warne ended 2023 with a nine-game unbeaten league run, winning eight of these matches which moved Derby up to 4th place in the table and two points off the automatic promotion places.[36] This impressive end to the year saw him win the Manager of the Month award for December 2023.[37] In early 2024 Derby found themselves in second place in the table but in February 2024, after Derby's first back-to-back league defeats at Barnsley and at home to Charlton Athletic, Warne warned his players that they needed to improve if they wanted to stay in the automatic promotion places.[38] Derby responded well to this message, with Derby winning their first four league matches in March and after a 1–0 win to promotion rivals Bolton Wanderers, Warne was delighted with the result but told his players not get carried away with Derby being four points clear of third place with seven league games remaining.[39] Having won five from six across the month, he was awarded the Manager of the Month award.[40] Warne achieved his fourth promotion from League One to the Championship after a 2–0 win at home to Carlisle United on the last day of the season confirmed Derby would be promoted as runners-up with their highest ever points tally.[41][42]

Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Warne released seven first team players from the previous campaign including captain Conor Hourihane, midfielder Korey Smith, whilst first-choice goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith and midfielder Louie Sibley rejected a contract offers.[43] Derby signed 11 players in the summer transfer window,[44] however delays in some of these transfers until after the season started lead Warne to warn that his side was not Championship ready in mid-August after picking up a single win in the club's first three Championship matches, as well as a second round EFL Cup defeat to League Two Barrow.[45] However, on 31 August 2024, Derby beat Bristol City 3–0 at Pride Park with Warne describing it as "the best Derby performance I've seen since I've been here"; this led Derby to gain six points in the first month of the season over four matches.[46] On 7 November 2024, following the dismissal of Mark Robins at Coventry City, Warne became the longest serving active manager in the EFL Championship.[47]

On 7 February 2025, the club released a statement announcing Warne had been relieved of his duties, having lost his last seven games, with Derby sat in 22nd place, just two points from safety.[48] In Warne's final game in charge against Sheffield United, fans began turning against Warne with abusive chants, with Warne comparing the feeling to that of being a "pantomime dame".[49]

Milton Keynes Dons

[edit]

On 15 April 2025, Milton Keynes Dons announced the signing of Warne on a 'long-term deal' as head coach, relieving caretaker Ben Gladwin who had taken over in March after the sacking of Scott Lindsey. A press release stated, "This is a significant appointment for MK Dons and demonstrates the club's unwavering ambition to attract a head coach of Paul's calibre while in League Two".[50]

On 8 April 2026, with four games to play, and with the club in the second automatic promotion spot and two points clear of fourth place, Warne was shortlisted as a nominee for the EFL Manager of the Season award for League Two.[51]

Despite not winning the award, in his first full season, Warne went on to win the fifth promotion of his managerial career as Milton Keynes Dons achieved automatic promotion with a second-placed finish on 86 points, missing out on the League Two title on the final day.[52]

Personal life

[edit]

He is a supporter of Norwich City[53] as well as being a fan of American football team the Pittsburgh Steelers, often referencing the sport in interviews. Shortly after his appointment as head coach of Milton Keynes Dons - known for their controversial relocation and criticised by many as an example of franchising - Warne commented he was pleased at the association due to his interest in the NFL where franchising is more commonplace.[54]

Career statistics

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wigan Athletic 1997–98[55] Second Division 25200002[a]0272
1998–99[56] Second Division 11110101[a]1142
Total 363101031414
Rotherham United 1998–99[56] Third Division 218———218
1999–2000[57] Third Division 431020202[a]04910
2000–01[58] Second Division 44730201[a]0507
2001–02[59] First Division 2502100—271
2002–03[60] First Division 4011041—452
2003–04[61] First Division 3512030—401
2004–05[62] Championship 2410010—251
Total 232281011213025730
Mansfield Town (loan) 2004–05[62] League Two 71———71
Oldham Athletic 2005–06[63] League One 40941101[a]04610
2006–07[64] League One 46942103[b]05411
Total 861883204010021
Yeovil Town 2007–08[65] League One 33110102[a]0371
2008–09[66] League One 44420211[a]0495
Total 775303130866
Rotherham United 2009–10[67] League Two 152101100173
2010–11[68] League Two 11100103[a]0151
2011–12[69] League Two 3000000030
Total 293102130354
Career total 4675823420216152665
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ↑ One appearance in Football League Trophy, two in League One play-offs

Managerial statistics

[edit]
As of match played 15 August 2026
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref.
PWDLWin %
Rotherham United 28 November 2016 22 September 2022 29311265116038.2 [16][70][failed verification]
Derby County 22 September 2022 7 February 2025 132603141045.5 [70]
Milton Keynes Dons 15 April 2025 Present 59271913045.8 [70]
Total 484199115170041.1

Honours

[edit]

As a player

[edit]

Diss Town

As a manager

[edit]

Rotherham United

Derby County

Milton Keynes Dons

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 "Paul Warne". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  2. ↑ Griffin, Tom (14 March 2024). "Finance expert explains the main problem Derby County will face if they get promoted 💰️". Derby County News. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  3. ↑ "Derby County Club Honours, Records + Managers - Derby County". www.dcfc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  4. ↑ "Derby 1-0 West Brom". 28 May 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  5. ↑ "Paul Warne joins MK Dons as Head Coach". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  6. ↑ Norwich City nut plots unique Wembley double Archived 30 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine Eastern Daily Press, 25 May 2018
  7. ↑ Diss Town FA Vase final: The players remembered Archived 12 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine Diss Mercury, 4 May 2014
  8. 1 2 FA Cup third round: Manchester City on Rotherham United boss Paul Warne's radar BBC Sport, 4 January 2019
  9. ↑ "Oldham man agrees Yeovil switch". BBC Sport. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  10. ↑ "Yeovil to release forward Warne". BBC Sport. 26 June 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  11. ↑ "Millers take strike duo on trial". BBC Sport. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  12. ↑ "Warne agrees to Rotherham return". BBC Sport. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  13. ↑ "Striker Paul Warne pens new Rotherham United deal". BBC Sport. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  14. ↑ "Evans announces retained list". Rotherham United F.C. 7 May 2012. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  15. ↑ "Millers Grant Warne Testimonial". Rotherham United F.C. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  16. 1 2 "Rotherham United: Kenny Jackett quits as manager of Championship club". BBC Sport. 28 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  17. ↑ "Paul Warne: Rotherham United caretaker boss takes charge until end of season". BBC Sport. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  18. ↑ "Paul Warne: Rotherham United appoint interim boss as manager". BBC Sport. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  19. ↑ "Middlesbrough 0-0 Rotherham". BBC Sport. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  20. ↑ @jpercytelegraph (21 September 2022). "Register" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ↑ "Derby remove Liam Rosenior as manager and target Rotherham's Warne". 21 September 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  22. ↑ "Paul Warne Appointed as Derby County Head Coach". dcfc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  23. 1 2 "Sky Bet EFL January Manager and Player of the Month winners". www.efl.com. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  24. ↑ "Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Derby County". 7 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  25. ↑ "'Failed' - Paul Warne braced for talks with Derby County squad as departures certain". 9 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  26. ↑ "Rating Derby County's summer signings so far this season". Yahoo! Life. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  27. ↑ "Davies, Chester And Stearman To Leave Derby This Summer". Derby County F.C. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  28. ↑ "McGoldrick To Leave Derby After Setting Heart On Notts County Return". Derby County F.C. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  29. ↑ "Knight Leaves Derby To Join Bristol City". Derby County F.C. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  30. ↑ "Derby boss Paul Warne fears some players have been distracted by 'potential moves'". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  31. ↑ "Jake Rooney: Derby County defender out with knee injury". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  32. ↑ "Paul Warne: Derby County head coach demands improvement from entire squad". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.[dead link]
  33. ↑ "Should Derby County Make A Managerial Change? – Opinion". www.therealEFL.co.uk/sport. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  34. ↑ "Paul Warne: Derby County boss told to 'keep rocking on' by owner but knows improvement needed". BBC Sport. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  35. 1 2 3 "Paul Warne: Derby County boss bemoans side's unpredictability after FA Cup exit". BBC Sport. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  36. ↑ "Derby's 'magical' win at Oxford leaves Paul Warne excited". Keep Up. 30 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  37. 1 2 "Warne Lands League One Manager Of The Month Award For December". www.dcfc.co.uk. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  38. ↑ "Paul Warne: Derby County boss demands improvements after Charlton loss". BBC Sport. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  39. ↑ "Paul Warne: Derby County boss not getting carried away after beating Bolton". BBC Sport. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  40. 1 2 "Sky Bet League One Manager & Player of the Month: March winners". www.efl.com. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  41. ↑ "Derby County Promoted Back To The Sky Bet Championship!". DCFC Official Website. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  42. 1 2 Aloia, Andrew (27 April 2024). "Paul Warne: Derby County boss relieved after Rams seal promotion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  43. ↑ "Skipper Hourihane heads Derby player releases". BBC Sport. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  44. ↑ "Paul Warne issues Derby County transfer window verdict". Derby Telegraph. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  45. ↑ "Derby are not Championship ready yet - Warne". BBC Sport. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  46. ↑ "Paul Warne makes big Derby County declaration after brilliant Bristol City win". Derby Telegraph. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  47. ↑ Curtis, Leigh (7 November 2024). "Paul Warne moves top of one Championship table with Derby County but it will give him zero pleasure". Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  48. ↑ Aloia, Andrew (7 February 2025). "Derby sack boss Warne after dire losing run". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  49. ↑ Aloia, Andrew (5 February 2025). "'It's a bit like being a panto dame' - Rams boss Warne". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  50. ↑ "Paul Warne joins MK Dons as Head Coach". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  51. ↑ "2026: Shortlist and how to watch". English Football League. 7 April 2026. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  52. ↑ "Fleetwood Town 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons - Warne's men finish second". BBC. 2 May 2026. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  53. ↑ "I would be amazed if they don't go straight back up - City fan Warne's seal of approval". Norwich Evening News. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  54. ↑ "Paul Warne: MK Dons boss says 'it is great to be a manager of a franchise team'". BBC. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  55. ↑ "Games played by Paul Warne in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  56. 1 2 "Games played by Paul Warne in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  57. ↑ "Games played by Paul Warne in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  58. ↑ "Games played by Paul Warne in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  59. ↑ "Games played by Paul Warne in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  60. ↑ "Games played by Paul Warne in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  61. ↑ "Games played by Paul Warne in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  62. 1 2 "Games played by Paul Warne in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  63. ↑ "Games played by Paul Warne in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  64. ↑ "Games played by Paul Warne in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  65. ↑ "Games played by Paul Warne in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  66. ↑ "Games played by Paul Warne in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  67. ↑ "Games played by Paul Warne in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  68. ↑ "Games played by Paul Warne in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  69. ↑ "Games played by Paul Warne in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  70. 1 2 3 "Managers: Paul Warne". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  71. ↑ "League One & Two seasons ended early". BBC Sport.
  72. 1 2 "P.Warne profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  73. ↑ Scott, Ged (27 May 2018). "Rotherham United 2–1 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  74. ↑ "Fleetwood Town 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons - Warne's men finish second". BBC. 2 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  75. ↑ READ | Warne scoops Manager of the Month award - News - Rotherham United https://www.themillers.co.uk › January
  76. ↑ "Your Sky Bet EFL February Manager and Player of the Month winners!". English Football League. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
[edit]
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