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After Thomas Frank’s departure from Tottenham, the former Republic of Ireland international was promoted to head coach at Brentford, making an unexpected turn for the former Republic of Ireland international.
Andrews is the 98th permanent (non-caretaker or interim) managerial appointment by a Premier League club since June 2015, but only the sixth to be a first-time manager.
Only Parker and Arteta’s tenure as permanent managers in that position, which included Mike Phelan (Hull, 2016), Craig Shakespeare (Leicester, 2017), Scott Parker (Fulham, 2019), Mikel Arteta (Arsenal, 2019), and Gary O’Neil (Bournemouth, 2022), endured more than seven months.
Matthew Upson, who played with Andrews at Brighton in 2013-14 and when the Irishman began his coaching career at MK Dons in 2015, tells BBC Sport, “An appointment like this is a rare and a risk.”
“But it’s exciting – it’s got everyone talking about it. Keith’s career is moving forward in a significant way, but I know him well and understand why this opportunity exists.
Andrews, who was born in Dublin, left Wolverhampton Wanderers at the age of 20 and moved on to his first senior managerial position.
Will he be a success like Frank, who got Brentford promoted and established them in the Premier League during his seven years in charge?
Bees’ smart appointment was suited and booted.
Andrews ‘ playing career included Premier League appearances for Wolves, Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion, while he represented his country 35 times and featured at Euro 2012 when Giovanni Trapattoni was in charge of the Republic of Ireland.
He also had a chance to play for League Two at MK Dons, one of the 12 clubs he has represented throughout his 15-year career, which included 412 appearances in all competitions.
McDonnell, who has closely followed Andrews’ professional career as a player and coach, says, “He has always been someone who is aware of the world around him.”
“He was close to the owner at MK Dons, Pete Winkelman, and his standing there in his mid-20s was such that he helped recommend Paul Ince as manager in 2007.
At Wolves, they had previously played together. After that, Keith was taken with him to Blackburn.
“Keith has good interpersonal skills. He was always interested in the future and what was happening. He was speaking to and networking.
” He recognised it was a short playing career and maybe he realised that to stay in the game you had to have your eyes open to what was going on around you. “
After working for a clothing company, Andrews, who was 31 at the time, assisted in the squad’s selection of suits for the tournament.
According to McDonnell, “He had an entrepreneurial side.”
Andrews made his international debut in 2008 at the relatively late age of 28 soon after joining Blackburn, then a Premier League club, from League One MK Dons for around £1m.
He played for Ireland in 2009, but Thierry Henry’s skillful handling of the ball cruelly prevented them from winning the World Cup against France.
Although Ireland finished bottom of their group, which included Spain, Italy, and Croatia, Keith was probably one of the few to receive any credit, adds McDonnell.
Andrews announced his retirement from playing in August 2015, aged 34, to become first-team coach to Karl Robinson at MK Dons.
He said at the time, “I absolutely adore my new role, and this is the ideal setting for me to learn.”
I’m just football-obsessed. I never switch off for a second – even when I’m watching a game at home on the sofa, I’m analysing it.
“Riskous appointment, but also energizing.”
Andrews worked as assistant to Stephen Kenny for both the under-21 and senior Republic of Ireland national teams until Kenny’s departure in November 2023.
Prior to joining Roberto Martinez and Anthony Barry as Thomas Tuchel’s assistant in Belgium, Anthony Barry was also on the coaching staff at the time Andrews was involved.
Under the direction of Chris Wilder, Andrews left Sheffield United in December 2023 and became Brentford’s set-piece coach.
Though Andrews has been part of Brentford’s backroom team since last summer, it has been known that he has had ambitions to begin his managerial career for some time – hence his decision to apply for the MK Dons job.
However, it continues to appoint people from within after Frank was promoted from his assistant position in 2018 to Dean Smith’s. Frank had managed Brondby and Denmark youth teams before joining Brentford.
Former England defender Upson says Brentford’s risk is present, but it’s also refreshing.
It demonstrates that they have faith in their organization, just as they did when Frank was appointed.
On his time working with Andrews at Brighton and MK Dons, Upson says: “He’s a very personable guy, and is excellent working with the players – he has got really good people skills, and his communication was really good.
He also had good coaching skills because of how well he spoke on the pitch.
When I was covering a Brentford game for 5 Live a few weeks ago, I had a good conversation with Keith, who was very supportive of the club and his work with Frank, and described how he was really putting his teeth into his position.
” He doesn’t have the experience of being a manager but he has the personality and the belief to do it and that must have come across, not just in an interview but from his work at the club in the past few months. “
Since taking over as set-piece coach at the Gtech Community Stadium on July 1, 2024, Andrews has undoubtedly had an impact.
In 24-25 sets-pieces, Brentford scored 14 of its 66 Premier League goals. Only Arsenal (17), Crystal Palace (17), Nottingham Forest (17), Aston Villa (16), Brighton (15) and Everton (15) scored more.
In addition, Brentford came in second place with six goals conceded from set pieces, behind Manchester City, who had a whopping six.
The Bees gained a reputation last season for using a quick start right away, with Andrews’ methods alleged to be a contributing factor.
In three successive league matches between 14-28 September – Manchester City (away), Tottenham (away) and West Ham (home) – they scored after 22 seconds, 23 seconds and 38 seconds.
Nathan Collins scored after 76 seconds in Brentford’s next game, a 5-3 home win over Wolves on October 5.
What I learned from our interaction was that he kept things fairly straightforward in terms of how he perceived the game as a player, “adds Upson.” He would do the simple things really well and he would like to play forwards quickly.
Will there be a line-up of critics?
Andrews has been a pundit on radio and television in both the Republic of Ireland and England.
After losing to Wales in 2018, he told the Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill to “stop moaning,” adding: “They don’t have a clue what they are doing.
What will success look like for Brentford under their new manager? Andrews can expect to face the same scrutiny as he will as a Premier League manager.
Since winning promotion to the Premier League in 2021, the Bees have finished 13th, 9th, 16th and 10th.
There will probably be a point where the team will experience a wobble, a dip, or a decline in results, according to Upson.
What transpires will be interesting, and it really depends on what Keith’s expectations are.
” Even Thomas Frank has had wobbles in the past, when the team went through really bad spells. Bryan Mbeumo is also projected to leave, which is a surprise.
“I can see why he has this chance, but having played with Keith and seen him as a coach in his early days, I can see why he has this chance,” he said.
” As well having good opinions, he is an impressive communicator in how he gets his ideas across. That is a very important trait for him as a manager because getting the players to agree with you is key.
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- Brentford
- Premier League
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