Former Chelsea player Roberto di Matteo was then appointed in July 2008, his personal first ever managerial position.[10][11] Di Matteo was the first, and so far only, foreign manager of the club. He left after a season to manage West Bromwich Albion.[12] Ince was reappointed in his stead on 3 July 2009.[13]Paul Ince resigned as manager on 16 April 2010, stating "a reduction in funds for next season was the reason behind his decision to leave", Karl Robinson was appointed as Caretaker Manager, although Ince remained with the club until the end of the 2009–10 season.
Karl Robinson (R) and head of coaching Gary Waddock (L), pictured in 2013. Robinson held the longest tenure of any MK Dons manager, in charge from 2010 through 2016.
Karl Robinson was appointed manager on 10 May 2010, having previously been the club's assistant manager under previous boss Paul Ince. At 29 years of age, he was the youngest manager in the Football League, and former England coach John Gorman was named his number two. He was also the youngest person to ever acquire a UEFA Pro Licence at the age of 29. At the end of the 2011–12 season Gorman retired and was replaced by former Luton Town player/manager Mick Harford. At the same time, ex-Arsenal and former England international Ian Wright was also enlisted in a part-time role to provide assistance with coaching duties.
In January 2013, Robinson turned down an offer to manage Blackpool, a well established Championship and former Premier League team, in favour of his continuing commitment and loyalty towards Milton Keynes Dons, something which endeared him to the fans of the club.[14] Robinson was linked to other former Premier League clubs including Birmingham City, Sheffield United and Leeds United, and eventually managed Charlton Athletic in 2016–18 after leaving Milton Keynes before moving on to Oxford United.
After Robinson's departure, Richie Barker acted as caretaker manager for just under six weeks before former Hearts manager Robbie Neilson announced his move to the club. Neilson was at the club for just over one year before he left by mutual consent in January 2018 after a disappointing run of one win in 11 league games.[15] Former England youth coach Dan Micciche took over as manager, lasting a spell of three months in the job before leaving, being temporarily replaced by his assistant Keith Millen.[16]
June 2018 saw the appointment of former Exeter City boss Paul Tisdale,[17] tasked with turning around the Dons after their relegation to League Two. Tisdale began his League Two campaign with a near-perfect month, gaining 16 points from a possible 18, conceding just two goals.[18] Tisdale led MK Dons to a third-place finish, gaining automatic promotion back to League One on the first attempt.[19]
Following a poor start to the 2019–20 season in which Milton Keynes Dons achieved only one point from a possible 27 - the worst run of results in the club's short history - Tisdale's contract with the club was mutually terminated on 2 November 2019 following a 1–3 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers.[20] The next day it was announced that MK Dons player Russell Martin would take on the managerial role with immediate effect,[21] and later announced his retirement as a player to focus on the role.[22]
On 1 August 2021, it was announced that Russell Martin had departed Stadiummk, to fill the vacant head coach position at EFL Championship outfit Swansea City A.F.C. agreeing terms on a 3-year deal to move to South Wales, with the Buckinghamshire side confirming the news via their website.[23] Dean Lewington took charge temporarily, overseeing the first two league games of the 2021–22 season.
On Friday 13 August 2021, MK Dons announced that former Lommel SK manager Liam Manning had been officially appointed as the Football Club's new head coach.[24] Liam guided the Dons to a 3rd-place finish in EFL League One that season, losing 2–1 on aggregate to Wycombe Wanderers in the play off semi final.
After only picking up 5 wins from the first 20 league games in the following season, MK Dons parted company with Liam Manning on the 11th December 2022. Dean Lewington again took temporary charge of the team until a new head coach was announced.
On Friday 23 December 2022, Mark Jackson was announced as the new Milton Keynes Dons head coach. After managing only 6 wins from 25 league games, MK Dons were relegated on the final day of the 2022–23 season following a 0–0 draw with Burton because Cambridge United beat Forest Green Rovers 2–0 to lift themselves out of the relegation zone. Jackson was sacked 2 days later.
On Saturday 27 May 2023, Graham Alexander was announced to be taking over as head coach.
Mike Williamson was the latest MK Dons manager.[25] He departed on 19th September 2024 to take up the role of head coach at Carlisle Utd.[26]
List of managers
Statistics are correct as of 25 September 2024.[11]
^Stuart Murdoch was the manager of Wimbledon before the club was renamed in 2004. The date of Milton Keynes Dons's first league match, 7 August 2004, was agreed in 2006 to be the date on which Murdoch ceased to manage Wimbledon and began to manage Milton Keynes Dons.
^ ab"Allen named new Leicester manager". BBC Whilst Allen had spent a lot of money transforming the team, he continues to receive mixed reviews for his period as manager. Some praised him for prevent successive promotions which many in the football community had expected as well as recruiting key players for the following campaign. However 'long ball tactics', disappointing highly paid signings and failure at the play-offs left others disappointed with his spell. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
