Scott Dann

For the English boxer, see Scott Dann (boxer).

Scott Dann

Dann playing for Crystal Palace in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Scott Dann [1]
Date of birth	(1987-02-14) 14 February 1987 (age 36) [2]
Place of birth	Liverpool, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) [3]
Position(s)	Centre back
Youth career
2003–2004	Walsall
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2008	Walsall	59	(7)
2005	→ Køge BK (loan)	2	(0)
2005–2006	→ Redditch United (loan)
2006	→ Hednesford Town (loan)
2008–2009	Coventry City	47	(3)
2009–2011	Birmingham City	50	(2)
2011–2014	Blackburn Rovers	98	(5)
2014–2021	Crystal Palace	164	(13)
2021–2023	Reading	31	(2)
International career
2008	England U21	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:08, 6 July 2023 (UTC)

Scott Dann (born 14 February 1987) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back. He began his Football League career with Walsall, before moving on to Coventry City and then to Birmingham City in 2009. After Birmingham's relegation from the Premier League, Dann joined Blackburn in August 2011 and was the club's captain. He joined Crystal Palace in January 2014 and left in the summer of 2021 joining Reading.

Early life

Dann was born in Liverpool, Merseyside, ^[2] and attended Archbishop Beck High School in the Walton district of the city. He is a former Liverpool F.C. season ticket holder. ^[4]

Career

Walsall

Dann joined Walsall in 2003 as a junior after impressing on trial at the Bescot Stadium, signing a professional contract with the Saddlers the following year. He moved up the ranks at Walsall to become a regular in the reserve team throughout 2004–05 and was allowed to join Danish side Køge BK on loan towards the end of the campaign, where he played twice under Gregor Rioch. ^[5]

Dann then joined Conference North side Redditch United on loan in October 2005 initially until the end of the season, but he was recalled in January 2006. He then Joined Redditch's league rivals Hednesford Town on loan following injuries to their regular centre-backs Richard Teesdale and Ian Wright. He played in three games for the Pitmen, against Hucknall Town, Stafford Rangers and Lancaster City, before injury put an end to his loan spell at Keys Park. He returned to Walsall and was put on a short-term contract for the 2006–07 season, where he earned his place in the starting line-up with a number of excellent performances at the back. His season was ended in March 2007 after picking up a metatarsal injury in the game against Milton Keynes Dons.

As reward for his outstanding season for the Saddlers, who were promoted as League Two Champions, Dann was given a three-year contract to commit him to the club and to ward off interest from a number of clubs higher up in the league.

Coventry City

His form in League One was equally as impressive as the previous season, so it was little surprise that in January 2008 Dann joined Coventry City for an undisclosed fee, suggested in the media to be "in excess of £1 million". ^[6] His impressive form for the Saddlers continued in the Championship for the Sky Blues alongside former Walsall teammate Daniel Fox, who had also moved to the Ricoh Arena. He helped the club narrowly avoid relegation. The England set-up had seen enough in Dann and Fox to decide they were ready to make the step up to international level, with both players making their U-21 debuts in March 2008 against Poland at Molineux.

Dann was appointed captain of Coventry City for the 2008–09 season. ^[7]

Birmingham City

Dann in pre-season with Birmingham City in 2011

Dann signed for Birmingham City on 12 June 2009 for an undisclosed fee, described as a "club record fee for a defender"; ^[8] local press reports suggested the fee to be in the region of £3.5 million, with a possible increase to £4 million, with performance-based add-ons. ^{[9] [10] [11]} Surgery during the summer and then a pulled thigh muscle meant Dann was not fully match fit when an injury to Franck Queudrue gave him the chance to make his Premier League debut on 19 September at Hull City. ^[12] Birmingham won 1–0, and Dann played well and retained his place in the starting eleven. ^[13]

At Christmas 2009, The Times' Patrick Barclay described Dann and defensive partner Roger Johnson as "certainties" for his team of the season so far. ^[14] His first goal for Birmingham came against Derby County in the FA Cup on 13 February 2010, ^[15] during a run of 15 games unbeaten in all competitions, including a club record 12 unbeaten in the top flight. ^{[16] [17]} A calf injury sustained in training ^[18] caused him to miss the last three games of the season as the club finished in ninth place, their best for more than 50 years. ^[19]

Dann scored the opening goal as Birmingham beat a Hong Kong XI 3–2 in an invitation match branded the Xtep Cup, part of the club's 2010 pre-season tour of the Far East, ^[20] and his first Premier League goal, a header from a Sebastian Larsson cross, on the opening weekend of the 2010–11 season as Birmingham drew 2–2 away at Sunderland. ^[21] Following surgery on a hamstring damaged in the League Cup semi-final in January 2011, Dann was ruled out for the remainder of the season. ^[22] The club were relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the season.

Blackburn Rovers

Dann with Blackburn Rovers in 2013

On 31 August 2011, the last day of the transfer window, Blackburn Rovers signed Dann on a four-year deal for an officially undisclosed fee, reported by BBC Sport as £6 million. ^{[23] [24]} Dann said that manager Steve Kean, with whom he had worked at Coventry, was "a big factor" in his decision to join the Ewood Park club. ^[25] He was given squad number 16. ^[26] On 11 September, he made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage, starting alongside Christopher Samba and completing the full 90 minutes as Rovers earned their first point of the season. ^[27] During the 2–1 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion in December, Dann scored his first goal for Rovers, but also suffered a ruptured testicle, an injury which was expected to keep him out for six weeks. ^[28] At the end of the 2011–12 season, Dann made a total of 28 appearances in all competitions and also suffered relegation for the third time in his career as Rovers finished in 19th place in the Premier League.^{[ citation needed ]}

On 12 March 2013, Dann was officially confirmed as captain of the club, succeeding Danny Murphy. ^[29]

Crystal Palace

On 31 January 2014, Dann signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Premier League club Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee. ^[30] He made his debut on 8 February in a 3–1 home win against West Bromwich Albion. ^[31]

Dann won the club's Player of the Year award for 2014–15, ^[32] followed by the Player's Player of the Year award for 2015–16. ^[33]

In July 2015 he signed a new five-year contract with the club. ^[34]

Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Dann replaced Mile Jedinak as captain. ^[35] He was succeeded by Jason Puncheon for 2017–18. ^[36] Both Dann and Puncheon suffered cruciate ligament injuries in the same match, against Manchester City in December 2017, that kept them out for the rest of the season. ^[37] Dann returned to action just over a year later, starting in the FA Cup third round match against Grimsby Town. ^[38]

Dann left Crystal Palace after his contract expired at the end of the 2020–21 season. ^{[39] [40]}

Reading

Dann signed a one-year contract with Championship club Reading on 30 August 2021. ^[41] He scored his first goal for the club on 20 October in a 3-2 loss to Blackpool. ^[42] In March 2022, Dann's contract was extended for a further year. ^[43]

Dann made 18 appearances for Reading in the 2021–22 season. His appearances were limited during the second half of the campaign due to injury and he spent the first half of the 2022–23 campaign on the sidelines. On 2 January 2023, Dann made his first start in almost 10 months for Reading against West Bromwich Albion in a 1–0 defeat at The Hawthorns. On 17 May 2023, Reading announced that Dann would leave the club at the end of his contract. ^[44]

Career statistics

As of match played 8 May 2023

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Walsall	2004–05 [45]	League One	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2005–06 [46]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2006–07 [47]	League Two	30	4	2	0	1	1	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	34	5
	2007–08 [48]	League One	28	3	5	0	1	0	0	0	34	3
	Total		59	7	7	0	2	1	1	0	69	8
Coventry City	2007–08 [48]	Championship	16	0	—		—		—		16	0
	2008–09 [49]	Championship	31	3	2	0	2	1	—		35	4
	Total		47	3	2	0	2	1	—		51	4
Birmingham City	2009–10 [50]	Premier League	30	0	4	1	1	0	—		35	1
	2010–11 [51]	Premier League	20	2	1	0	4	0	—		25	2
	2011–12 [52]	Championship	0	0	—		—		0	0	0	0
	Total		50	2	5	1	5	0	0	0	60	3
Blackburn Rovers	2011–12 [52]	Premier League	27	1	0	0	1	0	—		28	1
	2012–13 [53]	Championship	46	4	5	1	1	0	—		52	5
	2013–14 [54]	Championship	25	0	1	1	0	0	—		26	1
	Total		98	5	6	2	2	0	—		106	7
Crystal Palace	2013–14 [54]	Premier League	14	1	—		—		—		14	1
	2014–15 [55]	Premier League	34	2	3	2	0	0	—		37	4
	2015–16 [56]	Premier League	35	5	6	0	1	0	—		42	5
	2016–17 [57]	Premier League	23	3	0	0	2	1	—		25	4
	2017–18 [58]	Premier League	17	1	0	0	1	0	—		18	1
	2018–19 [59]	Premier League	10	0	3	0	0	0	—		13	0
	2019–20 [60]	Premier League	16	0	0	0	1	0	—		17	0
	2020–21 [61]	Premier League	15	1	0	0	0	0	—		15	1
	Total		164	13	12	2	5	1	—		181	16
Reading	2021–22 [62]	Championship	18	2	0	0	0	0	—		18	2
	2022–23 [63]		13	0	1	0	0	0	—		14	0
	Total		31	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	32	2
Career total			449	32	33	5	16	3	1	0	499	40

1. Appearance in Football League Trophy

Honours

Walsall

• Football League Two: 2006–07 ^[64]

Birmingham City

• Football League Cup: 2010–11 ^[65]

Crystal Palace

• FA Cup runner-up: 2015–16 ^[66]

Individual

• Crystal Palace Player of the Year: 2014–15

References

1. "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 106. ISBN   978-1-84596-601-0.
3. "Scott Dann". Crystal Palace F.C. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
4. Pearce, James (26 May 2011). "Liverpool FC considering move for Birmingham City defender Scott Dann". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
5. "Fra dansk 1. divisionsflop til Premier League-stjerne". tipsbladet.dk (in Danish). 17 September 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
6. Halford, Brian (1 February 2008). "Scott Dann follows Fox to Coventry from Walsall". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
7. Turner, Andy (4 August 2008). "Scott Dann is named Coventry City captain". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
8. "It's a Dann deal!". Birmingham City F.C. 12 June 2009. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012.
9. Tanner, Robert (12 June 2009). "£3.5m Scott Dann given Premier choice". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
10. "Alex McLeish had tracked Scott Dann 'long term'". Coventry Telegraph. 12 June 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
11. "Scott Dann fee may rise to £4m?". Coventry Telegraph. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
12. Tattum, Colin (18 September 2009). "Fit-again Scott Dann ready to step into line of fire at Hull City". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
13. Tattum, Colin (16 May 2010). "Birmingham City's Scott Dann can blossom next season". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham. Retrieved 4 December 2012. Due to injury, he had to wait his turn. But when Dann was pressed into action at Hull City despite not being fit or really up to speed – he played a debut blinder and the rest is history.
14. Barclay, Patrick (24 December 2009). "Polished duo Roger Johnson and Scott Dann put case for the defence". The Times. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
15. Ornstein, David (13 February 2010). "Derby 1–2 Birmingham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
16. "Fresh fortunes at St Andrew's". FIFA. 15 January 2010. Archived from the original on 18 January 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
17. Tattum, Colin (16 May 2010). "Colin Tattum analyses the way ahead for Birmingham City". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
18. "McLeish: We didn't deserve that". Birmingham City F.C. 25 April 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012.
19. Roopanarine, Les (9 May 2010). "Bolton 2–1 Birmingham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
20. Chan Kin-wa (19 July 2010). "City match finishes in black, say organisers". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
21. "Sunderland 2–2 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 14 August 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
22. "Birmingham's Scott Dann ruled out for rest of season". BBC Sport. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
23. "A Dann deal as Birmingham City defender joins Blackburn Rovers". Lancashire Telegraph. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
24. "Birmingham defender Scott Dann signs for Blackburn Rovers". BBC Sport. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
25. O'Rourke, Pete (1 September 2011). "Dann happy with Rovers move". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
26. "Blackburn Rovers 2011/12". FootballSquads. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
27. Magowan, Alistair (11 September 2011). "Fulham 1–1 Blackburn". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
28. "Dann ruled out for six weeks". ESPN Soccernet. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
29. "Scott Dann is the new captain of Blackburn replacing Danny Murphy". Sky Sports. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
30. "Palace swoop for Dann". Crystal Palace F.C. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
31. Chase, Graham (8 February 2014). "Crystal Palace 3–1 West Brom". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
32. "Dann named Crystal Palace Player of the Year". Crystal Palace F.C. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
33. "Dann named Players' Player of the Year". Crystal Palace F.C. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
34. "Dann signs 5 year contract". Crystal Palace F.C. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
35. "Scott Dann replaces Mile Jedinak as Crystal Palace captain". ESPN.com. AAP. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
36. "Puncheon Confirmed As Palace Captain". Crystal Palace F.C. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
37. Fifield, Dominic; Miller, Nick (2 January 2018). "Crystal Palace's Scott Dann and Jason Puncheon ruled out for rest of season". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
38. Field, Pippa (5 January 2019). "Jordan Ayew comes off bench to save Crystal Palace blushes against Grimsby Town in closely fought FA Cup tie". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
39. "Scott Dann departs Palace after seven years". Crystal Palace. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
40. "Scott Dann leaves Crystal Palace after seven years at Selhurst Park". Sky Sports. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
41. "Scott Dann added to Royals ranks". Readng F.C. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
42. "Reading 2-3 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
43. "Scott Dann extends contract until 2023". Readng F.C. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
44. "NEW DEALS OFFERED AS CONTRACTS COME TO THEIR CONCLUSION". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
45. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
46. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
47. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
48. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
49. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
50. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
51. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
52. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
53. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
54. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
55. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
56. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
57. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
58. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
59. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
60. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
61. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
62. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
63. "Games played by Scott Dann in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
64. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2007). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2007–2008. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 47, 394–395. ISBN   978-0-7553-1664-9.
65. "Birmingham City's Scott Dann with his winners medal". Yahoo! Eurosport. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
66. McNulty, Phil (21 May 2016). "Crystal Palace 1–2 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 May 2019.

External links

• Profile at Walsall F.C. website
• Profile at Crystal Palace F.C. website
• Scott Dann at Soccerbase