Association football club based in Milton Keynes, England

football club
Milton Keynes Dons Football Club ( ), normally abbreviated to MK Dons, is a professional association football baseball club based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. The team competes in EFL League One, the third grade of the English football league system, after gaining promotion at the end of the 2018–19 season. The club was founded in 2004, following Wimbledon F.C. ‘s controversial move to Milton Keynes from south London, when it adopted its show name, badge and home colours. [ n 2 ]

initially based at the National Hockey Stadium, the club competed as Milton Keynes Dons from the begin of the 2004–05 season. After two seasons in League One, they were relegated to League Two in 2006. The club moved to their current background, Stadium MK, for the 2007–08 temper, in which they won the League Two championship and the Football League Trophy under the management of Paul Ince. After seven farther seasons in League One, the clubhouse won promotion to the Championship in 2015 under the management of Karl Robinson ; however, they were relegated back to League One after one season. Milton Keynes Dons have built a reputation for young person development, [ 4 ] run 16 disability teams and their football trust engages around 60,000 people ; between 2012 and 2013 the club produced 11 young players who have been called into age group national teams and between 2004 and 2014. The club besides gave first-team debuts to 14 local academy graduates, including the England international midfielder Dele Alli. [ 5 ] [ 6 ] The club besides operates a women ‘s team, who groundshare Stadium MK with their male counterparts – Milton Keynes Dons Women – and they presently play their football in the one-third grade of the Womens English Football pyramid. [ 7 ]

Origins

Milton Keynes, about 45 miles ( 72 kilometer ) northwest of London in Buckinghamshire, was established as a new township in 1967. [ 8 ] In the absence of a professional football club representing the town—none of the local non-league teams progressed importantly through the English football league system or “ pyramid ” over the take after decades—it was occasionally suggested that a Football League club might relocate there. There was no precedent in English league football for such a move between conurbations and the football authorities and most fans expressed strong resistance to the idea. [ 9 ] Charlton Athletic concisely mooted moving to “ a progressive Midlands borough ” during a planning challenge with their local council in 1973, [ 10 ] and the move of nearby Luton Town to Milton Keynes was repeatedly suggested from the 1980s onwards. [ 11 ] Another team linked with the new town was Wimbledon Football Club. [ 12 ] Wimbledon, established in south London in 1889 and nicknamed “ the Dons ”, were elected to the Football League in 1977. They thereafter went through a “ fairytale ” lift from obscureness and by the end of the 1980s were established in the top division of English football. [ 13 ] Despite Wimbledon ‘s new bulge, the club ‘s modest family stadium at Plough Lane remained largely unchanged from its non-league days. [ 13 ] The club ‘s then-owner Ron Noades identified this as a problem a early as 1979, extending his dissatisfaction to the ground ‘s very location. interest in the stadium site designated by the Milton Keynes Development Corporation, Noades concisely planned to move Wimbledon there by merging with a non-league club in Milton Keynes, and bought debt-ridden Milton Keynes City. however, Noades then decided that the club would not gain sufficient back in Milton Keynes and abandoned the theme. [ 12 ] In 1991, after the Taylor Report was published recommending the renovation of English football grounds, Wimbledon left Plough Lane to groundshare at Crystal Palace ‘s establish, Selhurst Park, about 6 miles ( 9.7 kilometer ) away. Sam Hammam, who then owned Wimbledon, said the club could not afford to redevelop Plough Lane and that the groundshare was a impermanent placement while a newly ground was sourced in southwest London. A new stadium for Wimbledon proved unmanageable to achieve. [ 13 ] Frustrated by what he perceived as a lack of support from Merton Council, Hammam began to look far afield and by 1996 was pursuing a move to Dublin, an estimate that most Wimbledon fans strongly opposed. [ 14 ] Hammam sold the baseball club to two norwegian businessmen, Kjell Inge Røkke and Bjørn Rune Gjelsten, in 1997, [ 15 ] and a class late sold Plough Lane to Safeway supermarkets. [ 16 ] Wimbledon were relegated from the Premier League at the goal of the 1999–2000 season. [ 17 ]
Starting in 1997, [ 18 ] a consortium led by music showman Pete Winkelman and supported by Asda ( a Walmart subsidiary company ) and IKEA proposed a large retail growth in Milton Keynes including a football League-standard stadium. [ 19 ] [ 20 ] The consortium in the first place proposed that the stadium be located at the National Bowl but late altered their proposal to change the site of the proposed stadium to Denbigh North, the same locate as the consider retail development. [ 21 ] The consortium proposed that an established league club act to use this site ; [ 19 ] [ 20 ] it approached Luton, Wimbledon, Crystal Palace, Barnet and Queens Park Rangers. [ 22 ] In 2001 Røkke and Gjelsten appointed a fresh chair, Charles Koppel, who was in favor of this theme, saying it was necessary to stop the baseball club going out of occupation. [ 23 ] To the ferocity of most Wimbledon fans, [ 24 ] Koppel announced on 2 August 2001 that the baseball club intended to relocate to Milton Keynes. After the Football League refused permission, Wimbledon launched an appeal, leading to a Football Association arbitration hear and subsequently the appointee of a three-man autonomous mission to make a final and adhere verdict. The league and FA stated opposition but the commissioners ruled in favor, two to one, on 28 May 2002. [ 25 ] Having campaigned against the move, [ 24 ] a group of disaffected Wimbledon fans reacted to this in June 2002 by forming their own non-league golf club, AFC Wimbledon, to which most of the master team ‘s support defected. [ 26 ] AFC Wimbledon entered a groundshare agreement with Kingstonian in the borough of Kingston upon Thames, adjacent to Merton. [ 26 ] The original Wimbledon intended to move to Milton Keynes immediately but were unable to do so until a temp home in the town converge Football League criteria could be found. [ 27 ] The club remained at Selhurst Park in the meanwhile and in June 2003 went into presidency. [ 28 ] With the motion threatened and the club facing elimination, [ 29 ] Winkelman decided to buy it himself. [ 20 ] He secured fund for the administrators to keep the team operating with the goal of getting it to Milton Keynes deoxyadenosine monophosphate soon as potential. [ 30 ] The baseball club arranged the impermanent use of the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes and played its first base equal there in September 2003. [ 31 ] Nine months later Winkelman ‘s Inter MK Group bought the cabaret out of administration and announced changes to its name, badge and colours—the team was renamed Milton Keynes Dons Football Club. [ 32 ]

history

2004–2006 : Struggles and relegation

The first base season for the club as Milton Keynes Dons was 2004–05, in Football League One, under Stuart Murdoch, who had managed Wimbledon F.C. since 2002. The team ‘s first game was on 7 August 2004, a 1–1 home pull against Barnsley, with Izale McLeod equalising with their first competitive goal. [ 33 ] Murdoch was sacked in November [ 34 ] and replaced by Danny Wilson, who kept Milton Keynes Dons in the division on the concluding day of the temper — but only because of Wrexham ‘s 10-point deduction for going into administration. The watch temper, Milton Keynes Dons struggled all year, and were relegated to League Two ; Wilson, as a resultant role, was sacked. [ 35 ]

2006–2010 : promotion and first silverware

Wilson ‘s successor for 2006–07 was Martin Allen, who had just taken Brentford to the brink of a place in the Football League Championship. Milton Keynes Dons were in competition for automatic forwarding right improving to the last plot of the season, but finally finished one-fourth and had to settle for a play-off put. They then suffered a defeat to Shrewsbury Town in the play-off semi-finals. During the 2007 summer break, Allen left to take over at Leicester City. For the 2007–08 season, former England captain Paul Ince took over as director. Milton Keynes Dons reached the concluding of the Football League Trophy, while topping the table for most of the season. The final was played on 30 March 2008 against Grimsby Town — Milton Keynes Dons won 2–0 at Wembley to bring the first master trophy to Milton Keynes. The golf club capped the trophy succeed with the League Two championship, and the subsequent promotion to League One. Following his successes, Ince left at the end of the season to manage Blackburn Rovers. Ince ‘s substitute was early Chelsea player Roberto Di Matteo, taking his first function as a director. In the 2008–09 season, they missed out on an automatic rifle forwarding point by two points, finishing third behind Peterborough United and Leicester City. They were knocked out of the play-offs by Scunthorpe United, who defeated MK Dons by penalty gunfight at Stadium MK. Di Matteo left at the season ‘s end for West Bromwich Albion. [ 36 ] A year after leaving, Ince returned as director for the 2009–10 season. [ 37 ] He resigned from the club on 16 April 2010, but remained coach until the end of the season. [ 38 ]

2010–2016 : Karl Robinson earned run average

On 10 May 2010, Karl Robinson was appointed as the club ‘s raw director, with erstwhile England coach John Gorman as his adjunct. At 29 years of age, Robinson was at the time of his appointment the youngest coach in the Football League. [ 39 ] In his first temper in the clubhouse Milton Keynes Dons finished fifth in 2010–11 League One. They faced Peterborough United in the play-off semifinals. Although they won the beginning leg 2–1, a 2–0 get the better of at London Road meant they missed out on the play-off final, losing the Semi-Final 3–2 on aggregate goals. The 2011–12 season brought similar results to the former temper with the Dons finish up one-fifth in 2011–12 League One facing Huddersfield in the play-offs. Losing the first leg 2–0 followed by winning 2–1 at The Galpharm saw Milton Keynes Dons lose 3–2 on aggregate against the eventual play-off winners. The away branch was John Gorman ‘s last match in football after announcing his retirement a few weeks ahead. Gorman ‘s substitution was announced on 18 May 2012 as being ex-Luton director Mick Harford along with modern half-time coach Ian Wright .
Chart showing the advance of MK Dons ‘ league finishes since the 2004–05 season Milton Keynes Dons experienced their best ever FA Cup campaign in the 2012–13 season by beating a spirited Cambridge City ( 0–0 and 6–1 ), League Two boisterous rivals AFC Wimbledon ( 2–1 ), Championship Sheffield Wednesday ( 0–0 and 2–0 ) and Premier League Queens Park Rangers ( 4–2 ) to reach the fifth turn of the competition for the first time always in their history. Their record-breaking run ended in the fifth round off at Stadium MK on 16 February 2013, losing 3–1 to Championship side Barnsley. After being in the top five for most of the temper, the club finished the 2013–14 League One season in tenth home. The 2014–15 season began well. The highlight event of the temper ‘s beginning calendar month was being drawn against Manchester United in the League Cup second round of golf, having dispatched AFC Wimbledon in the first. The Dons recorded a shock 4–0 victory over Manchester United in front of a sell out crowd at Stadium MK. [ 40 ] A few weeks belated, the Dons recorded their read succeed, a 6–0 slam dance of Colchester United at home. [ 41 ] That record did not death long as it was broken once again with a 7–0 destruction of Oldham Athletic on 20 December 2014. [ 42 ] Just over a month late, on 31 January 2015, the Dons recorded a joint record 5–0 away win against Crewe Alexandra, earning a ephemeral top spot. [ 43 ] On 3 May the club secured promotion to the Football League Championship for the first time, beating Yeovil Town 5–1 and leapfrogging Preston North End ( who lost 1–0 at Colchester United ) on the final day of the season. [ 44 ] The Dons started life in the championship by beating Rotherham United away 4–1 on the open day of the season and gaining seven points from a potential 12 in their first base four games. They were not able to sustain this form throughout the season – the Dons did not win any of their concluding 11 games and they returned to League One after finishing 23rd in the Championship. [ 45 ] On 23 October 2016, Karl Robinson left the club by common consent, following a 3–0 home to defeat to Southend United the previous day, which had extended the Dons ‘ winless run to four games and left them 19th in the League One table. [ 46 ]

2016–2018 : dense decay

Robbie Neilson joined MK Dons as director from scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian in his native Scotland, [ 47 ] with his first official game in charge coincidentally an FA Cup bind against Karl Robinson ‘s raw club Charlton Athletic. [ 48 ] Neilson ‘s reign started away good, with his moment game in charge a succeed over AFC Wimbledon, [ 49 ] and in former January 2017 a local bowler hat gain against Northampton Town. [ 50 ] The follow season started ill, however on 30 December 2017 the team was noted [ 51 ] for a noteworthy 1–0 bowler hat gain against Peterborough, playing with 9-men for 68 minutes after controversial referee decisions [ 52 ] [ 53 ] and 13 minutes of total time. [ 54 ] Neilson left by common accept on 20 January 2018 after a footrace of one acquire in eleven league games with the clubhouse 21st in the table ; [ 55 ] he was sacked the lapp day as his survive game, a disappointing away 2–1 bowler hat kill against relegation rivals Northampton Town. [ 56 ] Under Neilson ‘s successor Dan Micciche, the club continued to struggle in the relegation places. Following a move of inadequate results with only three wins in sixteen matches in charge, Micciche left the clubhouse on 22 April 2018, with assistant coach Keith Millen taking over as a caretaker. [ 57 ] On the penult weekend of the temper another frustration mathematically relegated them to League Two ( leaving them seven points from base hit with one crippled to play ). [ 58 ]

2018–present : Bounce-back and search for stability

former Exeter City director Paul Tisdale was appointed in June 2018 after 12 years at his previous club. [ 59 ] After a season where the Dons were tipped to be favourites for promotion, the club spent most of the temper around the automatic forwarding and play-off places. Going exceed after a 2–0 win over Macclesfield Town in November, [ 60 ] the golf club slump to 8th in February [ 61 ] before being one gain way aside from automatic promotion against play-off aspirant Colchester United in the penultimate game. The Dons lost 2–0 [ 62 ] which led to a “ winner takes all ” game against 3rd place Mansfield Town, who were separated by goal remainder, to determine who was promoted. [ 63 ] MK Dons won 1–0 in front of about 21,000 fans meaning they returned to League One at the first attempt. [ 64 ] Following a poor start to the 2019–20 season in which the Dons achieved entirely one point from a possible 27, the worst race of results in the cabaret ‘s history, Tisdale ‘s sign with the clubhouse was mutually terminated on 2 November 2019 following a 1–3 base frustration to fellow relegation-threatened Tranmere Rovers. [ 65 ] The next day, Russell Martin was announced as the new permanent first-team director ; he had joined as a player earlier in the year. [ 66 ] Fixtures were suspended on 13 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, [ 67 ] and the clubs later voted to end the season prematurely with immediate effect on 9 June 2020, with the final table decided upon by an unweighted points-per-game system resulting in the club finishing the season in 19th place, [ 68 ] therefore avoiding delegating .

Kit history

Only seasons played by Milton Keynes Dons under that name are given here. For a kit history of Wimbledon F.C., see Wimbledon F.C.#Kit history.

beginning : historical Football Kits

stadium

The club ‘s first stadium was the National Hockey Stadium, which was temporarily converted for football for the duration of the cabaret ‘s stay. Their lease on the venue ended in May 2007. On 18 July 2007, the baseball club ‘s new 30,500 capacity stadium, Stadium MK in Denbigh hosted its first game, a restricted-entrance event against a young Chelsea XI. [ 70 ] The stadium was officially opened on 29 November 2007 by Queen Elizabeth II. [ 71 ] The stadium features an open concourse at the top of the lower grade, an desegregate hotel with rooms looking over the pitch and league facilities. The complex was to include a 3,000 capacity indoor sphere, where the MK Lions basketball team would be based, but completion of this arena was delayed ascribable to postponement of propose commercial developments around the site. [ 72 ] In May 2009, the stadium was named as one of 15 stadium put forward as potential hosts for the England 2018 FIFA World Cup bid, which would include increasing capacity to 44,000. [ 73 ] England ‘s command was unsuccessful, but Stadium MK went on to be one of stadium for the Rugby World Cup 2015. [ 74 ] [ 75 ]

Supporters

luminary supporters

The Dons ‘ most celebrated non-football relate patron was local anesthetic nonmigratory Jim Marshall, the founder of Marshall Amplification, [ 76 ] who were one of the earliest shirt-sponsors. [ 77 ] Racing driver Dan Wheldon was besides reported to be a fan ; [ 78 ] after his death, a minute ‘s silence was held in his memory before the next plot ‘s kickoff, against Scunthorpe. [ 79 ] Former cricketer and talkSport radio presenter Darren Gough, [ 78 ] despite being a Barnsley F.C. winnow, attends Dons games from time to time as he lives nearby, and besides frequently speaks of the Dons when presenting on the radio. other noteworthy fans who are either Dons fans or regularly attend games are : Gabi Downs, Paralympic fencer ; Andrew Baggaley, table tennis Commonwealth Games bivalent amber medalist ; Gail Emms, badminton universe ace ; James Hildreth and James Foster both England cricketers ; Mark Lancaster, local member of parliament and politics curate in 2012 ; Craig Pickering, 100m sprinter – bronze decoration at the World Championship in 2007 ; Craig Gibbons, London 2012 Olympic 100 meter swimmer ; Mikey Burrows, Sky Sports Radio presenter ; and the late musician and radio broadcaster George Webley. [ 78 ]

initial supporters ‘ club recognition

On 4 June 2005, at the 2005 Football Supporters ‘ Federation “ Fans ‘ fantan ” ( AGM ), the FSF refused the Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association membership of the FSF in a consider that, among other arguments, questioned why the Football League had even to introduce any fresh rules to prevent the “ franchise ” of other football clubs in the future. [ 80 ] [ 81 ] In addition, the FSF membership agreed with the Wimbledon Independent Supporters ‘ Association that the Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association should not be entitled to join the FSF until they give up all call to the history and honor of Wimbledon FC. With this in mind, the FSF began discussions aimed at returning Wimbledon FC ‘s respect to the London Borough of Merton. shortly afterwards, following heavy criticism for allowing the move, the Football League announced fresh mean rules on cabaret move. [ 82 ] At its AGM on 5 June 2006, the FSF again considered a motion [ 83 ] proposed by the FSF Council to allow Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association membership if the honours and trophies of Wimbledon FC were given to the London Borough of Merton. In October 2006, agreement [ 84 ] was reached between the club, the Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association, the Wimbledon Independent Supporters ‘ Association and the Football Supporters Federation. The FA Cup trophy plus all clubhouse patrimony gathered under the appoint of Wimbledon F.C. would be returned to the London Borough of Merton. ownership of trademarks and web site sphere names related to Wimbledon F.C. would besides be transferred to the borough. As separate of the same agreement it was agreed that any reference point made to Milton Keynes Dons FC should refer only to events subsequent to 7 August 2004 ( the date of the inaugural League game of Milton Keynes Dons FC ). As a solution of this deal, the FSF announced that the supporters of Milton Keynes Dons FC would be permitted to become members of the federation, and that it would no long appeal to the supporters of early clubs to boycott Milton Keynes Dons ‘ matches. [ 85 ] On 2 August 2007, Milton Keynes Dons transferred possession of all Wimbledon Football Club trophies and memorabilia to the London Borough of Merton. [ 86 ]

Rivalries

Peterborough United

MK Dons have a competition with Peterborough United, [ 87 ] [ 88 ] since the two clubs have vied neck and neck for forwarding to the Championship. [ 89 ] [ 90 ] There besides exists between MK Lightning and Peterborough Phantoms in ice field hockey a competition that pre-dates the one in football. [ 91 ] Head to head

Opponent

Matches

Won

Drawn

Lost

Win %

Peterborough United

25
11
3
12
44.0

[ 92 ]

Northampton Town

Northampton is geographically the closest urban area to Milton Keynes with a professional football team, Northampton Town, the two places separated by a little over 20 miles ( 32 kilometer ). [ 93 ] Former MK Dons Supporters ‘ Association Chairman John Brockwell had stated that the fans were looking advancing to hosting Northampton Town, the baseball club that, geographically at least, are their near rivals. [ 94 ] Although Peterborough United have been traditionally Northampton ‘s chief rivals, the “ Cobblers “ spokesman has stated, in 2008, that, “ with MK Dons immediately on the regular list, it gives [ Northampton ] supporters the chance to develop another competition. ” [ 94 ] In January 2016 patrol arrested a Dons sports fan for setting off pyrotechnics in the away end, furthermore two Northampton fans and three more Dons fans were ejected from the anchor. [ 95 ] In 2018, before the 30 January 3pm kick-off in the League One game between the two clubs, Northamptonshire Police arrested seven travelling supporters of the Dons, with one Northampton fan besides arrested. [ 96 ] [ 97 ] Four arrests were for public regulate offences, one for condemnable damage, one for pitch trespass, one for obstructing the police, and one for affray. [ 96 ] Head to head

Opponent

Matches

Won

Drawn

Lost

Win %

Northampton Town

14
8
3
3
57.1

[ 98 ]

AFC Wimbledon

due to their shared ancestry in Wimbledon F.C., there is an inescapably acrimonious competition with AFC Wimbledon [ 99 ] since the resettlement of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes ; [ 100 ] AFC Wimbledon was the club created in 2002 by estrange supporters of Wimbledon F.C.. Dons chair Pete Winkelman initially stated that MK Dons were the rightful inheritors, writing in November 2004 that “ MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon partake the same heritage, but we ‘re the real number child of Wimbledon ” [ 101 ] The first base fixture between MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon took home in the second gear round of the 2012–13 FA Cup, where they were drawn to play each other at Stadium MK. Milton Keynes Dons won the match, held on 2 December 2012, by two goals to one, with a achiever scored in wound meter, scored by Jon Otsemobor and dubbed by MK Dons fans as “ The Heel of God ” ( a citation to Maradona ‘s “ Hand of God ” ). [ 102 ] Kyle McFadzean ‘s open goal for MK Dons in the second match between the two clubs, a 3–1 MK winnings in the inaugural round of the League Cup in August 2014, [ 103 ] was besides scored with his heel, and was consequently labelled “ Heel of God II ”. [ 104 ] Two months later, in the Football League Trophy Southern part second round, AFC Wimbledon defeated MK Dons 3–2 with a winning goal by Adebayo Akinfenwa. [ 105 ] On 10 December 2016, the sides met for the first gear time in a competitive league fastness following MK Dons ‘ delegating from the Championship and AFC Wimbledon ‘s promotion from League Two the former season. Milton Keynes Dons won 1–0, with Dean Bowditch scoring the alone finish of the game with a 63rd-minute penalty. [ 106 ] The first visit of MK Dons to AFC Wimbledon ‘s base ground for a League One match on 14 March 2017 resulted in a 2–0 victory for AFC Wimbledon. In 2017, AFC Wimbledon, in the club ‘s broadcast for their home game against the Dons, held on 22 September, failed to recognise their opponents by their full name for the second consecutive season. AFC ‘s official Twitter tip besides referred to their opponents as “ Milton Keynes ” throughout their match coverage. AFC Wimbledon were subsequently threatened by the EFL with disciplinary action, [ 100 ] and finally charged for breaching EFL regulations. [ 107 ] The charges were dropped. [ 108 ] AFC were forced to refer to the MK Dons by their full moon name ahead of the 2018–19 season after the EFL stepped in to mediate. [ 109 ] Head to head

Opponent

Matches

Won

Drawn

Lost

Win %

AFC Wimbledon

11
7
2
2
63.6

Wycombe Wanderers

Wycombe Wanderers are the only other professional team in Buckinghamshire, consequently games between the two teams are labelled “ the Bucks bowler hat. ” [ 110 ] [ 111 ] Head to head

Opponent

Matches

Won

Drawn

Lost

Win %

Wycombe Wanderers

9
4
3
2
44.4%

[ 112 ]

Community

Through the employment of Milton Keynes Dons SET ( Sport and Educational Trust ), the cabaret works locally ( Milton Keynes and the neighbor towns ) in the fields of department of education, social inclusion, engagement and football development. [ 113 ] It works with schools, has 14 disability teams playing in regional or national competitions, works with BME ( black and minority ethnic ) community groups and runs many activities for women and girls. MK Dons besides supports the “ Football volt Homophobia ” first step ( one of only 25 premiership and football league clubs supporting the plan in 2012 and alone 30 in 2013 ). Milton Keynes Dons ‘ work in the community was recognised by the award of Football League Awards Community Club of the year for London and the South East for 2012, and in the award of an honorary doctor’s degree to chair Pete Winkelman by the Open University in June 2013. [ 115 ]

young person academy

Striker Sam Baldock was the first celebrated academy graduate who, after making 102 appearances, moved on to West Ham for a seven-figure sum. Since then he became captain of Bristol City and now plays for Derby County. As of February 2015, Daniel Powell, Tom Flanagan and George Baldock, brother of Sam, all played regularly for the MK Dons first team. On 2 February 2015, Milton Keynes Dons academy graduate and first team midfielder Dele Alli was sold to Premier League slope Tottenham Hotspur for a fee in the area of £5 million. [ 116 ] Alli became the first Milton Keynes Dons academy graduate to make a fully England senior team introduction, on 9 October 2015. [ 117 ]

Kevin Danso is a alumnus of the academy [ 118 ] who went on to play for Austria and became the youngest player to make a league appearance in FC Augsburg ‘s history, when making his Bundesliga debut. [ 119 ] [ 120 ] other noteworthy young person graduates who have gone on to play at a higher level include George Williams, Brendan Galloway, Scotland international Liam Kelly and England youth team external Sheyi Ojo. On 9 August 2016 in a first round EFL Cup match against Newport County, coach Karl Robinson selected a first-team police squad composed of 13 academy graduates and players, giving eight of those players their full debuts for the club including Brandon Thomas-Asante. The game ended with a 2–3 away winnings for the club. [ 121 ]

Players

First-team police squad

As of 26 November 2021.[122]

note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .

Out on lend

note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .

luminary players

For a list of all Milton Keynes Dons players, past or deliver, see category : Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players Dean Lewington, the present captain of MK Dons, has played more matches for the team than any other player. Pictured in 2011, he is, as of October 2017, the only former Wimbledon player left in the club’s squad. Mark Wright finished the 2007/08 temper as the club ‘s top goalscorer, helping the Dons win both the League Two title and the Football League Trophy. Jon Otsemobor made 44 appearances for the club and scored the winning finish in the first catch against AFC Wimbledon with a back-heel that was subsequently dubbed the “ Heel of God “. [ 123 ] Milton Keynes Dons were former Premier League player Jimmy Bullard ‘s final golf club before his retirement from football, making only three appearances for the baseball club. [ 124 ] similarly Dietmar Hamman made 12 appearances as a player-coach before retiring. [ 125 ] celebrated players loaned from early clubs were strikers Patrick Bamford, who scored 18 goals in 37 games, Benik Afobe, who became the league ‘s peak scorekeeper in fair six months, and Ángelo Balanta, whose loanword spell lasted three years. [ 126 ] Former Ireland international Clinton Morrison [ 127 ] and former Premiership players Paul Rachubka and James Tavernier besides had short-circuit loanword spells with the cabaret. Alan Smith, most known for his meter at Leeds United and Manchester United, joined the cabaret on lend, signing from Newcastle United before making the move permanent totalling 67 appearances for the club. other international players who have worn the Dons shirt include Tore André Flo, Ali Gerba, Michel Pensée, Cristian Benavente, Richard Pacquette, Keith Andrews, Russell Martin, Tom Flanagan, Drissa Diallo, Pelé and Ousseynou Cissé. Joe Walsh, Brendan Galloway, Jordan Houghton, Connor Furlong, Gboly Ariyibi, Gareth Edds all represented their countries at young level .

This list contains players who have made 100 or more league appearances (with the exception of Dele Alli). Appearances and goals apply to league matches only; substitute appearances are included. Names in bold denote current Milton Keynes Dons players.
Statistics are correct as of 29 September 2021.[128]

Name
Nationality
Position[n 3]
Milton Keynes Dons
career
Apps
Goals
Notes

 England

Midfielder
2011–2015
88
24

 England

Forward
2006–2011
102
33

 England

Winger
2011–2017
185
37

 Ireland

Midfielder
2013–2017
117
6

 England

Midfielder
2008–2014
210
17

 Australia

Midfielder
2004–2008
122
10

 Ireland

Midfielder
2009–2014
174
16

 France

Goalkeeper
2007–2011
135
0

 England

Defender
2012–2016
142
6

 France

Defender
2009–2013
121
11

 Scotland

Midfielder
2008–2011
113
22


 England

Defender
2004–
703
19

[n 4]

 England

Goalkeeper
2004–2006
2010–17
274
0

 England

Forward
2004–2007
2013–2014
165
62

 England

Defender
2006–2011
157
15

 England

Forward
2005–2007
102
27

 Ireland

Midfielder
2011–2017
228
9

 England

Forward
2008–2017
228
37

 Northern Ireland

Midfielder
2013–2017
102
22

 England

Defender
2013–2016
100
2

 England
Forward
2005-2011
178

50

 Ireland
Defender
2011-2014
108

19

 England

Defender
2016-2021
142
4

Players of the year

source : [ 131 ]

  1. ^[129] ascribable to the club ‘s delegating to League Two at the decision of the 2017–18 season and overall poor performance, Chairman Pete Winkelman decided not to award a Player of the Year respect .

Club staff

As of 13 September 2021.[132][133]

Name

Position

Liam Sweeting

Sporting Director

Simon Crampton

Performance Director

Liam Manning
Head Coach
Chris Hogg

Assistant Head Coach

David Wright

First-Team Coach

Lewis Price

First-Team Goalkeeping Coach

Adam Ross

Head of Rehabilitation

Tom Bromley

Head Strength and Conditioning Coach

David Perkins

Lead First-Team Performance Analyst

Harry Hagues

Kit Manager

Andy Lee

Head Groundsman

Jon Goodman

Academy Manager

Stephen Payne

Head of Academy Coaching

Lee Collier

Lead Professional Development Phase Coach

John Bitting

Lead Youth Development Phase Coach

Nathan Thomas

Lead Foundation Development Phase Coach

Lucy Juffkins

Senior Academy Physiotherapist

Caitlin O’Reilly

Academy Sports Therapist

aged management

Name

Position

Pete Winkelman
Club Chairman

John Cove

Club Director / MK Dons SET Chairman

Mark Turner

Club Director

Berni Winkelman

Club Director

Bobby Winkelman

Club Director

Andy Gibb

Group Sales & Marketing Director

Peter Cork

Associate Director

Kirstine Nicholson

Head of Football Operations

Andy Wooldridge

Head of Business Sales

Antoni Fruncillo

Head of Communications

Oona Carmichael

Customer Services Manager / Supporter Liaison Officer

Andy Standen

Disability Liaison Officer / Safety Officer

managerial history

Coaching history

noteworthy former coaches include Robbie Fowler, erstwhile German international Dietmar Hamann and former Arsenal actor Ian Wright. early Manchester United and England international Alan Smith was signed as a player, but frequently help director Karl Robinson during matches, and managed the modesty side on occasion. He took on a player-coach function at Notts County in May 2014. similarly, Alex Rae, a former top-flight musician, joined the Dons in July 2009 as first team bus on a irregular basis, with a view to a permanent wave deal, working under his former Wolves team-mate Paul Ince. [ 134 ] however, Rae did make three appearances as a player for the Dons. He left on 29 October 2010, following Ince to Notts County, as an assistant director, a role Rae fulfilled until he left the club on 3 April 2011, attendant to the passing of Ince .

Honours

League
Cup

Winners: 2006–07
Runners-up: 2005–06, 2017–18
  • Portimão Cup[135]
Winners: 2004

source : MKDons.com

Records and statistics

Milton Keynes Dons Women

The club founded a women ‘s association football team in 2009. They operate as partially of the club with an identical badge and undress, and as of the 2018–19 temper, the team share Stadium MK as their home stadium with their male counterparts, one of the first clubs in the nation to do therefore. [ 136 ] They compete in the FA Women ‘s National League South .

References

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