John Barnes teams up with LADbible and partypoker
6 years ago
United Kingdom Martin Devaney is a seasoned football coach and former professional player, transitioning from a notable playing career to impactful coaching roles, including caretaker manager positions at Barnsley and coaching roles at Port Vale.
Provided constructive feedback and adapted players' training programs. Worked in partnership with other coaches and multi-disciplinary support staff within the first team.
Co-founded with Jimmy Whitehead, aiming to establish a premier football academy nationwide, offering high-quality coaching for 7-16 year olds. Martin Devaney holds a UEFA Pro licence and FA AYA.
Co-founded with Patrick Devaney, specializing in business management and brand/product marketing with over 60 years of combined international experience.
Martin Thomas Devaney, born on June 1, 1980, in Cheltenham, England, embarked on his football journey with youth stints at Charlton Rovers, Birmingham City, and Coventry City. His professional playing career began in 1999 with his hometown club, Cheltenham Town, where he made his Football League debut. During his six seasons at Cheltenham, Devaney scored 43 goals in 227 league and cup appearances, notably scoring the club’s first Football League hat-trick in 2000 and the opening goal in their 2002 Third Division play-off final victory, earning him Man of the Match. He was also recognized as the club’s Player of the Year in the 2002–03 season. His consistent performance led to a move to Watford in 2005, though he quickly transferred to Barnsley later that year, beginning a significant chapter in his career.
At Barnsley, Devaney played a crucial role in the club’s promotion from League One in 2006, contributing eight goals in 48 games. He remained with Barnsley for six seasons, accumulating 18 goals in 176 matches. During his tenure, he participated in notable FA Cup victories against Liverpool and Chelsea in the 2007–08 season, reaching the semi-finals. Following his time at Barnsley, Devaney concluded his playing career with spells at Tranmere Rovers, Bohemians, Kidderminster Harriers, Hyde United, and Worcester City, showcasing his versatility across various leagues.
Post-playing career, Devaney transitioned into coaching, rejoining Barnsley in 2015 as an academy coach. He advanced to lead the Under-23s in 2018 and twice served as caretaker manager for the first team, in 2022 and 2024. His caretaker roles included guiding Barnsley through the League One play-off semi-finals in 2024. After mutually agreeing to depart Barnsley in April 2025 following the permanent appointment of Conor Hourihane as head coach, Devaney took on a new challenge as a first-team coach at Port Vale in July 2025, continuing his dedication to professional football development.
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