Former Aston Villa, West Brom, Newcastle United and Sheffield Wednesday star gets new manager's job

Former Aston Villa and West Brom utility man Steve Watson has returned to football management. The 49-year-old had been out of work since leaving Chester over 20 months ago in April 2022.

He has been appointed as the new manager of National League North outfit Darlington. Watson inherits a side that is second from bottom in the sixth tier of English football and is eight points adrift of safety. He will take charge of his first game against King’s Lynn at The Walks Stadium on Saturday, January 6. 

Darlington chief executive officer David Johnston said to the official club website: “It’s been a very difficult week for the club, and we’re now proud to announce Steve as our new manager.

“Steve has worked for clubs in this league and has a proven track record. He understands what this league is all about and what needs to be done.”

Watson mainly played for Newcastle United and Everton during a 19-year playing career but also played for the Villains and the Baggies. He made over 557 appearances for the five clubs over his career and was an FA Cup runner-up in 1998 with the Magpies. 

In regards to his time at Villa Park, he cost them a reported £4m back in October 1998 and spent a season-and-a-half at Villa Park playing under John Gregory.  He moved on to Everton in July 2000 for a reported £2.5m, meaning Villa lost £1.5m on the midfielder. 

Villa's Midlands rivals didn't have to pay a penny for Watson after signing him on a free transfer in 2005. Watson did do something he didn't do at Villa and that was score a league goal with his only effort coming against his former club.

He had a season-and-a-half at The Hawthorn's, playing 30 times in the Premier League where he was unable to stop them from being relegated, and then 12 times in the 2006/2007 Championship season before being loaned out and later let go to Sheffield Wednesday.

Since retiring from playing in 2009, he has worked as a coach at Huddersfield Town, Birmingham City, and later as an assistant manager at Macclesfield Town. Watson’s first job in management was with Gateshead in October 2007, and later took over York City in January 2019. He later moved to Chester, but lasted less than a year at The Deva Stadium, and since then has been out of management.