The Big Interview: Keith Downing
From Chelsea to England, via Wolves, Birmingham, Stoke, Cheltenham and West Brom with more than 300 appearances as a player and then 150 as a coach.
Not bad for a lad from Oldbury,
And Keith Downing has now taken on one of his most prestigious roles yet, as the boss of England's under-20s side.
'A huge honour' for the 50-year-old. He takes charge of his first game when the Czech Republic visit Shrewsbury's Greenhous Meadow on Monday evening.
Downing left Albion in January after six-and-a-half years, the victim of new boss Tony Pulis having a backroom reshuffle.
After a few months twiddling his thumbs, Downing had no hesitation in accepting the under-20s role when his country came calling in July.
And, while admitting it's a change of pace from the day-to-day routine of club football, Downing is relishing playing his part in developing England's brightest young prospects.
Speaking from the plush England headquarters at St George's Park in Burton, he said: "It's a challenge and I'm very pleased to be involved.
"It's a huge honour. I've been coaching for 20 years now, I've seen a lot of the development stages. it's great you do your qualifications and work hard and get a role like this.
"The role is slightly different, its not a day-to-day working with the team role but there are other factors of scouting, club visits, etc, getting to know the young players all around the county.
"It's a new slant for me. A development role that underpins the under-21s, looking up rather than down."
Downing inherited the role from former Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd, who moved down to under-19 level.
He will work closely with under-21 boss Gareth Southgate, building profiles on players from up and down the country, constantly assessing their development.
Downing will take in club under-21 games, go out to watch young Premier League players on loan at Football League clubs and liaise closely with the coaches who work with them on a daily basis.
He said: "They're still young adults, so you have to monitor them on the tactical side and the mental side.
"One moment you're doing so well, the next you might have to deal with a disappointment, and it's about how players handle that. You build up profiles of the players.
"At this age group, the guys are venturing out and playing their first senior football and it's interesting to see how they cope with that. it's the toughness of it.
