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| height =
| height =
| currentclub = [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] (head coach)
| currentclub = [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] (head coach)
| youthyears1 =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1997
| youthclubs1 = [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
| youthclubs1 = [[Norwich City F.C. Under-23s and Academy|Norwich City]]
| youthyears2 =
| youthyears2 = 1997–2000
| youthclubs2 = [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]]
| youthclubs2 = [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]]
| manageryears1 = 2015–2017
| manageryears1 = 2015–2017
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| managerclubs3 = [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]]
| managerclubs3 = [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]]
}}
}}
'''Luke Williams''' (born 1 May 1981) is an English professional [[Association football|football]] [[Manager (association football)|manager]] who is the [[head coach]] of [[EFL Championship|Championship]] club [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]].


Born in London, Williams played youth football for [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] and [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]] but retired aged 19 due to injury. He began his coaching career at [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] and [[West Ham United]], and spent several years coaching [[Brighton & Hove Albion]]'s [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Under-21s and Academy|under-21]]s. He then made his first-team managerial debut with [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] in 2015. After coaching [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]]'s under-23s, Williams became the assistant coach to [[Russell Martin (footballer)|Russell Martin]] at [[Milton Keynes Dons]] in 2019 and Swansea City in 2021.
'''Luke Williams''' (born 1 May 1981) is an English professional [[Association football|football]] [[Manager (association football)|manager]] who is the [[head coach]] of [[EFL Championship|Championship]] club [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]].
Born in London, Williams played youth football but suffered an injury at age 19, which stopped him from playing professionally. He began his coaching career at [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] and [[West Ham United]]. He spent several years coaching [[Brighton & Hove Albion]]'s [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Under-21s and Academy|under-21]]s and made his first-team managerial debut with [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] in 2015. After coaching [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]]'s under-23s, Williams became the assistant coach to [[Russell Martin (footballer)|Russell Martin]] at [[Milton Keynes Dons]] in 2019 and Swansea City in 2021.


Williams was appointed head coach of [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] in 2022, leading them to [[Football League]] promotion in his first season and breaking several club records, including the most wins and points in a season.<ref name="Luke Williams Notts County">{{cite web|url= https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/teams/backroom-staff/staff/luke-williams/ |title= Luke Williams - Head Coach |website=Notts County |accessdate=28 December 2023|archive-date=28 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228140111/https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/teams/backroom-staff/staff/luke-williams/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2024, he returned to Swansea City as head coach.
Williams was appointed head coach of [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] in 2022, leading them to [[Football League]] promotion in his first season and breaking several club records, including the most wins and points in a season.<ref name="Luke Williams Notts County">{{cite web|url= https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/teams/backroom-staff/staff/luke-williams/ |title= Luke Williams - Head Coach |website=Notts County |accessdate=28 December 2023|archive-date=28 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228140111/https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/teams/backroom-staff/staff/luke-williams/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2024, he returned to Swansea City as head coach.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Williams was born in [[London]], England, in 1981.<ref name="Birth date"/> He began playing football at youth level, but was released from [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]'s academy as a teenager.<ref name="Luke Williams BBC 2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67090256 |title=Notts County: Luke Williams' rise from coaching young offenders to leading the Magpies' renaissance |website=BBC Sport |date=13 October 2023|accessdate=28 December 2023}}</ref> He then joined [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]] as an apprentice.<ref name="The Guardian Feb 2024">{{cite web|url=https://amp.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/02/luke-williams-swansea-city-manager-interview |title='Motivation in life is everything': Luke Williams on loading lorries, being stabbed and managing Swansea |website=The Guardian |date=2 February 2024 |accessdate=4 February 2024}}</ref> Williams also played for his school football team and left school aged 16 without [[GCSE]]s.<ref name="The Guardian Feb 2024"/> At age 19, he suffered a knee injury and failed to win a contract with [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]], so he decided to focus on [[Coach (sport)|coaching]].<ref name="Luke Williams BBC 2023"/><ref name="The Guardian Feb 2024"/> He undertook warehouse work and drove minibuses to earn extra money.<ref name="Luke Williams BBC 2023"/><ref name="The Guardian Feb 2024"/>
Williams was born in [[London]], England, in 1981.<ref name="Birth date"/> He went to school at [[Waltham Abbey]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-07 |title=Luke Williams: Crushing injuries and cowboy hats - Bobby Zamora charts rise of Swansea boss |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cn05dwzn6g2o |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> Williams played football at youth level for [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]], but was released at age 16.<ref name="Luke Williams BBC 2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67090256 |title=Notts County: Luke Williams' rise from coaching young offenders to leading the Magpies' renaissance |website=BBC Sport |date=13 October 2023|accessdate=28 December 2023}}</ref> He then joined [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]] as an apprentice after a successful trial.<ref name="The Guardian Feb 2024">{{cite web|url=https://amp.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/02/luke-williams-swansea-city-manager-interview |title='Motivation in life is everything': Luke Williams on loading lorries, being stabbed and managing Swansea |website=The Guardian |date=2 February 2024 |accessdate=4 February 2024}}</ref> Williams also played for his school football team and left school aged 16 without [[GCSE]]s.<ref name="The Guardian Feb 2024"/> At age 19, he suffered a knee injury and failed to win a contract with [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]], so he decided to focus on [[Coach (sport)|coaching]].<ref name="Luke Williams BBC 2023"/><ref name="The Guardian Feb 2024"/>


Between ages 19 and 23, Williams had five operations in four years to correct his knee injury.<ref name="Luke Williams BBC 2023"/> He also suffered a broken hip and fractured skull from a car crash in his early 20s, and was stabbed with a champagne flute on a night out in London, which he believed may have caused him to suffer [[post-traumatic stress disorder]].<ref name="The Guardian Feb 2024"/>
Between ages 19 and 23, Williams had five operations in four years to correct his knee injury.<ref name="Luke Williams BBC 2023"/> He also suffered a broken hip and fractured skull from a car crash in his early 20s, and was stabbed with a champagne flute on a night out in London, which he believed may have caused him to suffer [[post-traumatic stress disorder]].<ref name="The Guardian Feb 2024"/>
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==Career==
==Career==
===Early career===
===Early career===
Williams began coaching youth teams at [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] and [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], and became an [[Football Association|FA]] Skills Coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/team/coachingstaff/|title=Swindon Town FC Coaching Staff|publisher=Swindon Town FC|accessdate=30 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403215032/http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/team/coachingstaff/|archive-date=3 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> He coached young offenders for West Ham's community programme and coached Leyton Orient's under-14s in the evenings, while also working as a teaching assistant at [[Braintree College]].<ref name="The Guardian Feb 2024"/>
Williams began coaching youth teams at [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] and [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], and became an [[Football Association|FA]] Skills Coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/team/coachingstaff/|title=Swindon Town FC Coaching Staff|publisher=Swindon Town FC|accessdate=30 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403215032/http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/team/coachingstaff/|archive-date=3 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> He undertook warehouse work and drove minibuses to earn extra money.<ref name="Luke Williams BBC 2023"/><ref name="The Guardian Feb 2024"/> Williams spent 18 months coaching children at [[London Fields]] on Saturday mornings and also coached young offenders for West Ham's community programme.<ref name="The Guardian Feb 2024"/> He coached Leyton Orient's under-14s in the evenings and also worked as a teaching assistant at [[Braintree College]].<ref name="The Guardian Feb 2024"/>


He later became a development coach at [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]], where he managed the club's [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Under-21s and Academy|under-21 and reserve sides]] for several years under first-team manager [[Gus Poyet]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/article/coachingadditions-962917.aspx|title=Coaching Additions|publisher=Swindon Town FC|accessdate=30 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="Luke Williams BBC 2023"/> Williams's side were the first Brighton team to play at the club's [[Amex Stadium]], which opened in 2011, as they beat [[Eastbourne Borough F.C.|Eastbourne Borough]] in the [[Sussex Senior Challenge Cup]] final.<ref name="Luke Williams Argus 2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/20210187.ex-brighton-coach-luke-williams-great-days-gus-poyet/ |title=Ex-Brighton coach Luke Williams on great days with Gus Poyet |website=The Argus |date=15 June 2022 |accessdate=28 December 2023}}</ref>
He later became a development coach at [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]], where he managed the club's [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Under-21s and Academy|under-21 and reserve sides]] for several years under first-team manager [[Gus Poyet]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/article/coachingadditions-962917.aspx|title=Coaching Additions|publisher=Swindon Town FC|accessdate=30 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="Luke Williams BBC 2023"/> Williams's side were the first Brighton team to play at the club's [[Amex Stadium]], which opened in 2011, as they beat [[Eastbourne Borough F.C.|Eastbourne Borough]] in the [[Sussex Senior Challenge Cup]] final.<ref name="Luke Williams Argus 2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/20210187.ex-brighton-coach-luke-williams-great-days-gus-poyet/ |title=Ex-Brighton coach Luke Williams on great days with Gus Poyet |website=The Argus |date=15 June 2022 |accessdate=28 December 2023}}</ref>


===Swindon Town and subsequent coaching===
===Swindon Town and subsequent coaching===
In 2013, Williams was appointed assistant manager to [[Mark Cooper (footballer, born 1968)|Mark Cooper]] at [[EFL League One|League One]] club [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]], and helped the team reach the [[2015 Football League play-offs|2015 play-offs]] before losing to [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] in the [[2015 Football League One play-off final|final]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32770740 |title=Preston North End 4-0 Swindon Town |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=24 May 2015 |access-date=28 July 2021 }}</ref> Following Cooper's departure, Williams worked as assistant to [[Lee Power]] and [[Martin Ling]], before becoming [[caretaker manager]] in December 2015 after Ling's resignation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/article/statement-chairman-on-ling-departure-2876275.aspx|title=Statement – Chairman on Ling Departure|publisher=Swindon Town FC|accessdate=30 December 2015}}</ref>
In 2013, Williams was appointed assistant manager to [[Mark Cooper (footballer, born 1968)|Mark Cooper]] at [[EFL League One|League One]] club [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]], and helped the team reach the [[2015 Football League play-offs|2015 play-offs]] before losing to [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] in the [[2015 Football League One play-off final|final]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32770740 |title=Preston North End 4-0 Swindon Town |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=24 May 2015 |access-date=28 July 2021 }}</ref> Following Cooper's departure, Williams worked as assistant to [[Lee Power]] and [[Martin Ling]], before becoming [[caretaker manager]] in December 2015 after Ling's resignation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/article/statement-chairman-on-ling-departure-2876275.aspx|title=Statement – Chairman on Ling Departure|publisher=Swindon Town FC|accessdate=30 December 2015}}</ref>


The following month, Williams was named manager until the end of the [[2015–16 Swindon Town F.C. season|season]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35375541 |title=Swindon Town: Luke Williams to remain in charge until May |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 January 2016 |accessdate=6 May 2017 }}</ref> He then signed a five-year contract as head coach after winning six of his 10 games in charge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/09/luke-williams-swindon-head-coach |title=Luke Williams earns five-year deal as Swindon Town head coach |date=9 March 2016 |work=The Guardian |accessdate=7 March 2017}}</ref> In November 2016, [[Tim Sherwood]] was named the club's [[director of football]] and began coaching the team alongside Williams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37938448 |title=Tim Sherwood: Swindon Town appoint ex-Tottenham boss as director of football |website=BBC Sport |date=10 November 2016 |accessdate=9 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37975468 |title=Tim Sherwood: Swindon's Luke Williams keen to learn from director of football |website=BBC Sport |date=14 November 2016 |accessdate=9 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/14912793.town-head-coach-luke-williams-enjoying-arrival-of-sherwood/ |title= Town head coach Luke Williams enjoying arrival of Sherwood |website=Swindon Advertiser |date=18 November 2016 |accessdate=10 January 2024}}</ref> Williams left Swindon in May 2017 by mutual agreement following the club's relegation to [[EFL League Two|League Two]] at the end of the [[2016–17 Swindon Town F.C. season|2016–17]] season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39816949|title=Luke Williams: Swindon Town head coach's departure confirmed by relegated club|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 May 2017|accessdate=6 May 2017}}</ref>
The following month, Williams was named manager until the end of the [[2015–16 Swindon Town F.C. season|season]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35375541 |title=Swindon Town: Luke Williams to remain in charge until May |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 January 2016 |accessdate=6 May 2017 }}</ref> He then signed a five-year contract as head coach after winning six of his 10 games in charge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/09/luke-williams-swindon-head-coach |title=Luke Williams earns five-year deal as Swindon Town head coach |date=9 March 2016 |work=The Guardian |accessdate=7 March 2017}}</ref> In November 2016, [[Tim Sherwood]] was named the club's [[director of football]] and began coaching the team alongside Williams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37938448 |title=Tim Sherwood: Swindon Town appoint ex-Tottenham boss as director of football |website=BBC Sport |date=10 November 2016 |accessdate=9 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37975468 |title=Tim Sherwood: Swindon's Luke Williams keen to learn from director of football |website=BBC Sport |date=14 November 2016 |accessdate=9 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/14912793.town-head-coach-luke-williams-enjoying-arrival-of-sherwood/ |title= Town head coach Luke Williams enjoying arrival of Sherwood |website=Swindon Advertiser |date=18 November 2016 |accessdate=10 January 2024}}</ref> Williams left Swindon in May 2017 by mutual agreement following the club's relegation to [[EFL League Two|League Two]] at the end of the [[2016–17 Swindon Town F.C. season|2016–17]] season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39816949|title=Luke Williams: Swindon Town head coach's departure confirmed by relegated club|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 May 2017|accessdate=6 May 2017}}</ref>


Following his departure, Williams became head coach of [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]]'s under-23s in 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/williams-appointed-under-23-coach/ |title=Williams appointed Under-23 coach |publisher=[[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] |date=29 June 2017 |access-date=28 July 2021 }}</ref> before becoming assistant to [[Russell Martin (footballer)|Russell Martin]] at [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] in 2019 and [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2019/november/williams-appointed-assistant-manager/ |title=Williams appointed assistant manager |publisher=[[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] |date=14 November 2019 |access-date=28 July 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2021/august/statement-russell-martin/ |title=Statement: Russell Martin |publisher=[[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] |date=1 August 2021 |access-date=1 August 2021}}</ref> He left the latter in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/club-statement-luke-williams-leaves-swansea-city |title=Club Statement: Luke Williams leaves Swansea City |website=www.swanseacity.com |date=18 February 2022}}</ref> At both clubs, Williams assisted Martin in coaching a [[Possession (sports)|possession]]-based style of play.<ref name="The Athletic">{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/2486603/2021/04/01/behind-the-scenes-with-mk-dons-the-team-with-the-third-highest-possession-in-europe/ |title=Behind the scenes with MK Dons, the team with the third highest possession in Europe |website=The Athletic |date=1 April 2021 |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref> Their MK Dons side set a new British record at the time, scoring after a 56-pass move.<ref name="The Athletic"/>
Following his departure, Williams became head coach of [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]]'s under-23s in 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/williams-appointed-under-23-coach/ |title=Williams appointed Under-23 coach |publisher=[[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] |date=29 June 2017 |access-date=28 July 2021 }}</ref> before becoming assistant to [[Russell Martin (footballer)|Russell Martin]] at [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] in 2019 and [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2019/november/williams-appointed-assistant-manager/ |title=Williams appointed assistant manager |publisher=[[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] |date=14 November 2019 |access-date=28 July 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2021/august/statement-russell-martin/ |title=Statement: Russell Martin |publisher=[[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] |date=1 August 2021 |access-date=1 August 2021}}</ref> He left the latter in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/club-statement-luke-williams-leaves-swansea-city |title=Club Statement: Luke Williams leaves Swansea City |website=www.swanseacity.com |date=18 February 2022}}</ref> At both clubs, Williams assisted Martin in coaching a [[Possession (sports)|possession]]-based style of play.<ref name="The Athletic">{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/2486603/2021/04/01/behind-the-scenes-with-mk-dons-the-team-with-the-third-highest-possession-in-europe/ |title=Behind the scenes with MK Dons, the team with the third highest possession in Europe |website=The Athletic |date=1 April 2021 |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref> Their MK Dons side set a new British record at the time, scoring after a 56-pass move.<ref name="The Athletic"/>


===Notts County===
===Notts County===
On 14 June 2022, Williams returned to management with [[National League (division)|National League]] club [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2022/june/luke-williams-announcement-140622/ |title=Head coach: Luke Williams |website=www.nottscountyfc.co.uk |date=14 June 2022 |access-date=14 June 2022}}</ref> He was awarded the National League Manager of the Month award for October 2022, winning all six matches across the month, with the club sat top of the league.<ref name="Oct22 MOTM">{{cite web|url=https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2022/november/october-manager-of-the-month-141122/ |title=Manager of the Month: October |website=www.nottscountyfc.co.uk |date=14 November 2022 |access-date=14 November 2022}}</ref> Williams won the same award in March 2023 as County remained unbeaten throughout the month.<ref name="Mar23 MOTM"/>
On 14 June 2022, Williams returned to management with [[National League (division)|National League]] club [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2022/june/luke-williams-announcement-140622/ |title=Head coach: Luke Williams |website=www.nottscountyfc.co.uk |date=14 June 2022 |access-date=14 June 2022}}</ref> He was awarded the National League Manager of the Month award for October 2022, winning all six matches across the month, with the club sat top of the league.<ref name="Oct22 MOTM">{{cite web|url=https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2022/november/october-manager-of-the-month-141122/ |title=Manager of the Month: October |website=www.nottscountyfc.co.uk |date=14 November 2022 |access-date=14 November 2022}}</ref> Williams won the same award in March 2023 as County remained unbeaten throughout the month.<ref name="Mar23 MOTM"/>


In [[2022–23 Notts County F.C. season|his first season with the club]], Notts County earned a club record-breaking 107 points, but finished second in the league behind [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]].<ref name="Luke Williams Notts County"/><ref name="2023PlayOffFinal"/> County scored 117 goals throughout the campaign and set a new club record unbeaten run in the league of 25 games.<ref name="2023PlayOffFinal"/> They also achieved the most wins in a season, with 32 wins.<ref name="Luke Williams Notts County"/> In the play-offs, Williams led County to promotion, defeating [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]] on penalties in the [[2023 National League play-off final|play-off final]] at [[Wembley Stadium]].<ref name="2023PlayOffFinal"/>
In [[2022–23 Notts County F.C. season|his first season with the club]], Notts County earned a club record-breaking 107 points, but finished second in the league behind [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]].<ref name="Luke Williams Notts County"/><ref name="2023PlayOffFinal"/> County scored 117 goals throughout the campaign and set a new club record unbeaten run in the league of 25 games.<ref name="2023PlayOffFinal"/> They also achieved the most wins in a season, with 32 wins.<ref name="Luke Williams Notts County"/> In the play-offs, Williams led County to promotion, defeating [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]] on penalties in the [[2023 National League play-off final|play-off final]] at [[Wembley Stadium]].<ref name="2023PlayOffFinal"/>


Williams's side regularly dominated possession against opposition teams, losing just three of their 46 league games in his first season, while using short [[corner kick|corners]] to maintain possession and increase the likelihood of scoring goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/profile-luke-williams |title=In profile - Luke Williams |website=swanseacity.com |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/5104900/2023/12/06/notts-county-short-corners-analysis/ |title=Notts County's devotion to short corners: Does it make statistical sense? |website=The Athletic |date=6 December 2023 |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref> Defensively, despite County conceding just 52 goals in all competitions in his first season, they conceded 49 goals in the first four months of his second season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67650153 |title=Notts County: Captain Kyle Cameron 'embarrassed' by goals League Two side have conceded |website=BBC Sport |date=7 December 2023 |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/luke-williams-blasts-soft-goals-8982831 |title=Luke Williams blasts 'soft goals' Notts County have conceded in recent weeks |website=Nottinghamshire Live |date=18 December 2023 |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref> Williams left County in January 2024, with the club fifth in the league and having scored 55 goals, the highest across England's top four divisions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13042041/luke-williams-swansea-city-appoint-notts-county-boss-as-new-head-coach |title=Luke Williams: Swansea City appoint Notts County boss as new head coach |website=[[Sky Sports]] |date=5 January 2024 |accessdate=5 January 2024}}</ref>
Williams's side regularly dominated possession against opposition teams, losing just three of their 46 league games in his first season, while using short [[corner kick|corners]] to maintain possession and increase the likelihood of scoring goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/profile-luke-williams |title=In profile - Luke Williams |website=swanseacity.com |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/5104900/2023/12/06/notts-county-short-corners-analysis/ |title=Notts County's devotion to short corners: Does it make statistical sense? |website=The Athletic |date=6 December 2023 |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref> Defensively, despite County conceding just 52 goals in all competitions in his first season, they conceded 49 goals in the first four months of his second season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67650153 |title=Notts County: Captain Kyle Cameron 'embarrassed' by goals League Two side have conceded |website=BBC Sport |date=7 December 2023 |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/luke-williams-blasts-soft-goals-8982831 |title=Luke Williams blasts 'soft goals' Notts County have conceded in recent weeks |website=Nottinghamshire Live |date=18 December 2023 |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref> Williams left County in January 2024, with the club fifth in the league and having scored 55 goals, the highest across England's top four divisions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13042041/luke-williams-swansea-city-appoint-notts-county-boss-as-new-head-coach |title=Luke Williams: Swansea City appoint Notts County boss as new head coach |website=[[Sky Sports]] |date=5 January 2024 |accessdate=5 January 2024}}</ref>


===Swansea City===
===Swansea City===
On 5 January 2024, Williams returned to [[EFL Championship|Championship]] club Swansea City as head coach on a three-and-a-half year contract, replacing [[Michael Duff (footballer)|Michael Duff]] mid-season.<ref name="Luke Williams Swansea City">{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/luke-williams-joins-swansea-city-head-coach|title=Luke Williams joins Swansea City as Head Coach|website=www.swanseacity.com|date=5 January 2024|accessdate=5 January 2024}}</ref><ref name="BBC Sport January 2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67897011 |title=Luke Williams: Swansea City 'the perfect move' for new head coach |website=BBC Sport |date=5 January 2024 |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref> He was chosen by Swansea for his attacking, possession-based style of play.<ref name="Luke Williams Swansea City"/><ref name="BBC Sport January 2024"/><ref name="Luke Williams Argus 2022"/>
On 5 January 2024, Williams returned to [[EFL Championship|Championship]] club Swansea City as head coach on a three-and-a-half-year contract, replacing [[Michael Duff (footballer)|Michael Duff]] mid-season.<ref name="Luke Williams Swansea City">{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/luke-williams-joins-swansea-city-head-coach|title=Luke Williams joins Swansea City as Head Coach|website=www.swanseacity.com|date=5 January 2024|accessdate=5 January 2024}}</ref><ref name="BBC Sport January 2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67897011 |title=Luke Williams: Swansea City 'the perfect move' for new head coach |website=BBC Sport |date=5 January 2024 |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref> He was chosen by Swansea for his attacking, possession-based style of play.<ref name="Luke Williams Swansea City"/><ref name="BBC Sport January 2024"/><ref name="Luke Williams Argus 2022"/>


Williams took charge of his first match the following day, a 2–0 victory against [[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]] in the [[FA Cup]], with goals from [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] loanee [[Charlie Patino]] and striker [[Jerry Yates]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67894715 |title=Swansea City 2 Morecambe 0 |website=BBC Sport |date=6 January 2024 |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref> Despite a difficult start against four of the top six teams in the league, Williams improved Swansea's form over the last quarter of the season; they avoided relegation and finished 14th in the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/vital-statistics-swansea-citys-foundations-2024-25-season |title=VITAL STATISTICS SWANSEA CITY'S FOUNDATIONS FOR THE 2024-25 SEASON |website=Swansea City |date=20 May 2024 |accessdate=26 May 2024}}</ref>
Williams took charge of his first match the following day, a 2–0 victory against [[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]] in the [[FA Cup]], with goals from [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] loanee [[Charlie Patino]] and striker [[Jerry Yates]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67894715 |title=Swansea City 2 Morecambe 0 |website=BBC Sport |date=6 January 2024 |accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref> Despite a difficult start against four of the top six teams in the league, Williams improved Swansea's form over the last quarter of the season; they avoided relegation and finished 14th in the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/vital-statistics-swansea-citys-foundations-2024-25-season |title=VITAL STATISTICS SWANSEA CITY'S FOUNDATIONS FOR THE 2024-25 SEASON |website=Swansea City |date=20 May 2024 |accessdate=26 May 2024}}</ref>


==Managerial statistics==
==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|match played 4 May 2024}}
{{updated|match played 12 January 2025}}


{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
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|align=left|5 January 2024
|align=left|5 January 2024
|align=left|''Present''
|align=left|''Present''
{{WDL|22|8|4|10|decimals=2}}
{{WDL|51|18|11|22|decimals=2}}
|<ref name="Soccerbase"/>
|<ref name="Soccerbase"/>
|-
|-
!colspan=3|Total
!colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|180|76|42|62|decimals=2}}
{{WDLtot|209|86|49|74|decimals=2}}
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!—
|}
|}
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=3850 Luke Williams managerial statistics] at Soccerbase
{{commons category}}
{{commons category}}
* {{Soccerbase manager|3850}}


{{Swansea City A.F.C. squad}}
{{Swansea City A.F.C. squad}}
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[[Category:Leyton Orient F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Leyton Orient F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Footballers from Greater London]]
[[Category:Footballers from London]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportsmen]]

Latest revision as of 19:54, 12 January 2025

Luke Williams
Williams with Notts County in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (1981-05-01) 1 May 1981 (age 43)[1]
Place of birth London, England
Team information
Current team
 Swansea City (head coach)
Youth career
Years Team
–1997 Norwich City
1997–2000 Bristol Rovers
Managerial career
2015–2017 Swindon Town
2022–2024 Notts County
2024– Swansea City

Luke Williams (born 1 May 1981) is an English professional football manager who is the head coach of Championship club Swansea City.

Born in London, Williams played youth football but suffered an injury at age 19, which stopped him from playing professionally. He began his coaching career at Leyton Orient and West Ham United. He spent several years coaching Brighton & Hove Albion's under-21s and made his first-team managerial debut with Swindon Town in 2015. After coaching Bristol City's under-23s, Williams became the assistant coach to Russell Martin at Milton Keynes Dons in 2019 and Swansea City in 2021.

Williams was appointed head coach of Notts County in 2022, leading them to Football League promotion in his first season and breaking several club records, including the most wins and points in a season.[2] In 2024, he returned to Swansea City as head coach.

Early life

[edit]

Williams was born in London, England, in 1981.[1] He went to school at Waltham Abbey.[3] Williams played football at youth level for Norwich City, but was released at age 16.[4] He then joined Bristol Rovers as an apprentice after a successful trial.[5] Williams also played for his school football team and left school aged 16 without GCSEs.[5] At age 19, he suffered a knee injury and failed to win a contract with Leyton Orient, so he decided to focus on coaching.[4][5]

Between ages 19 and 23, Williams had five operations in four years to correct his knee injury.[4] He also suffered a broken hip and fractured skull from a car crash in his early 20s, and was stabbed with a champagne flute on a night out in London, which he believed may have caused him to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder.[5]

Career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Williams began coaching youth teams at Leyton Orient and West Ham United, and became an FA Skills Coach.[6] He undertook warehouse work and drove minibuses to earn extra money.[4][5] Williams spent 18 months coaching children at London Fields on Saturday mornings and also coached young offenders for West Ham's community programme.[5] He coached Leyton Orient's under-14s in the evenings and also worked as a teaching assistant at Braintree College.[5]

He later became a development coach at Brighton & Hove Albion, where he managed the club's under-21 and reserve sides for several years under first-team manager Gus Poyet.[7][4] Williams's side were the first Brighton team to play at the club's Amex Stadium, which opened in 2011, as they beat Eastbourne Borough in the Sussex Senior Challenge Cup final.[8]

Swindon Town and subsequent coaching

[edit]

In 2013, Williams was appointed assistant manager to Mark Cooper at League One club Swindon Town, and helped the team reach the 2015 play-offs before losing to Preston North End in the final.[9] Following Cooper's departure, Williams worked as assistant to Lee Power and Martin Ling, before becoming caretaker manager in December 2015 after Ling's resignation.[10]

The following month, Williams was named manager until the end of the season.[11] He then signed a five-year contract as head coach after winning six of his 10 games in charge.[12] In November 2016, Tim Sherwood was named the club's director of football and began coaching the team alongside Williams.[13][14][15] Williams left Swindon in May 2017 by mutual agreement following the club's relegation to League Two at the end of the 2016–17 season.[16]

Following his departure, Williams became head coach of Bristol City's under-23s in 2017,[17] before becoming assistant to Russell Martin at Milton Keynes Dons in 2019 and Swansea City in 2021.[18][19] He left the latter in 2022.[20] At both clubs, Williams assisted Martin in coaching a possession-based style of play.[21] Their MK Dons side set a new British record at the time, scoring after a 56-pass move.[21]

Notts County

[edit]

On 14 June 2022, Williams returned to management with National League club Notts County.[22] He was awarded the National League Manager of the Month award for October 2022, winning all six matches across the month, with the club sat top of the league.[23] Williams won the same award in March 2023 as County remained unbeaten throughout the month.[24]

In his first season with the club, Notts County earned a club record-breaking 107 points, but finished second in the league behind Wrexham.[2][25] County scored 117 goals throughout the campaign and set a new club record unbeaten run in the league of 25 games.[25] They also achieved the most wins in a season, with 32 wins.[2] In the play-offs, Williams led County to promotion, defeating Chesterfield on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium.[25]

Williams's side regularly dominated possession against opposition teams, losing just three of their 46 league games in his first season, while using short corners to maintain possession and increase the likelihood of scoring goals.[26][27] Defensively, despite County conceding just 52 goals in all competitions in his first season, they conceded 49 goals in the first four months of his second season.[28][29] Williams left County in January 2024, with the club fifth in the league and having scored 55 goals, the highest across England's top four divisions.[30]

Swansea City

[edit]

On 5 January 2024, Williams returned to Championship club Swansea City as head coach on a three-and-a-half-year contract, replacing Michael Duff mid-season.[31][32] He was chosen by Swansea for his attacking, possession-based style of play.[31][32][8]

Williams took charge of his first match the following day, a 2–0 victory against Morecambe in the FA Cup, with goals from Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino and striker Jerry Yates.[33] Despite a difficult start against four of the top six teams in the league, Williams improved Swansea's form over the last quarter of the season; they avoided relegation and finished 14th in the league.[34]

Managerial statistics

[edit]
As of match played 12 January 2025
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
P W D L Win %
Swindon Town 30 December 2015 5 May 2017 75 20 22 33 026.67 [35]
Notts County 14 July 2022 5 January 2024 83 48 16 19 057.83 [35]
Swansea City 5 January 2024 Present 51 18 11 22 035.29 [35]
Total 209 86 49 74 041.15 —

Honours

[edit]

Manager

[edit]

Brighton & Hove Albion U23

Notts County

Individual

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Luke Williams". TNT Sports. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Luke Williams - Head Coach". Notts County. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Luke Williams: Crushing injuries and cowboy hats - Bobby Zamora charts rise of Swansea boss". BBC Sport. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Notts County: Luke Williams' rise from coaching young offenders to leading the Magpies' renaissance". BBC Sport. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "'Motivation in life is everything': Luke Williams on loading lorries, being stabbed and managing Swansea". The Guardian. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Swindon Town FC Coaching Staff". Swindon Town FC. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Coaching Additions". Swindon Town FC. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  8. ^ a b c "Ex-Brighton coach Luke Williams on great days with Gus Poyet". The Argus. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Preston North End 4-0 Swindon Town". BBC. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Statement – Chairman on Ling Departure". Swindon Town FC. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Swindon Town: Luke Williams to remain in charge until May". BBC Sport. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Luke Williams earns five-year deal as Swindon Town head coach". The Guardian. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Tim Sherwood: Swindon Town appoint ex-Tottenham boss as director of football". BBC Sport. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Tim Sherwood: Swindon's Luke Williams keen to learn from director of football". BBC Sport. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Town head coach Luke Williams enjoying arrival of Sherwood". Swindon Advertiser. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Luke Williams: Swindon Town head coach's departure confirmed by relegated club". BBC Sport. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Williams appointed Under-23 coach". Bristol City. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Williams appointed assistant manager". Milton Keynes Dons. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Statement: Russell Martin". Milton Keynes Dons. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Club Statement: Luke Williams leaves Swansea City". www.swanseacity.com. 18 February 2022.
  21. ^ a b "Behind the scenes with MK Dons, the team with the third highest possession in Europe". The Athletic. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Head coach: Luke Williams". www.nottscountyfc.co.uk. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Manager of the Month: October". www.nottscountyfc.co.uk. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  24. ^ a b "Awards: Langstaff & Williams". Notts County FC. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  25. ^ a b c d Aloia, Andrew (13 May 2023). "Chesterfield 2–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  26. ^ "In profile - Luke Williams". swanseacity.com. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Notts County's devotion to short corners: Does it make statistical sense?". The Athletic. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Notts County: Captain Kyle Cameron 'embarrassed' by goals League Two side have conceded". BBC Sport. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  29. ^ "Luke Williams blasts 'soft goals' Notts County have conceded in recent weeks". Nottinghamshire Live. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  30. ^ "Luke Williams: Swansea City appoint Notts County boss as new head coach". Sky Sports. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  31. ^ a b "Luke Williams joins Swansea City as Head Coach". www.swanseacity.com. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  32. ^ a b "Luke Williams: Swansea City 'the perfect move' for new head coach". BBC Sport. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  33. ^ "Swansea City 2 Morecambe 0". BBC Sport. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  34. ^ "VITAL STATISTICS SWANSEA CITY'S FOUNDATIONS FOR THE 2024-25 SEASON". Swansea City. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  35. ^ a b c "Managers: Luke Williams". Soccerbase. Centurycom. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
[edit]
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