Jean-Michel d'Avray
Encyclopedia
Jean-Michel d'Avray (born 19 February 1962 in Johannesburg
, South Africa
) is a former professional association footballer who spent the majority of his playing career at Ipswich Town
. He is currently a development coach with South Africa
n Premier Soccer League
club Bloemfontein Celtic
.
against Southampton
at Portman Road
in November 1979. Over the next 11 seasons he made more than 200 appearances for the club, scoring nearly 40 goals. He also had a brief spell on loan to Leicester City
where he made three appearances during the 1986–87 season. He went on to play for Dutch club NEC Nijmegen 28 times between 1990 and 1992.
s for England
at Under-21 level. He scored once, against Italy
to help England into the final of the 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
.
in the 1993–94 season. From 1993 to 1997 he coached the South African
Under-23 team, leading them out in 1994 for their inaugural game against Ghana
. He coached the squad for a total of 28 games, his final match coming in December 1997 against Uganda
.
In 1998 he moved to Australia to join A-League
team Perth Glory
as assistant manager before becoming manager in 2001. He led the team to the league title in 2003 and 2004. and succeeded Lawrie McKinna
as National Soccer League
(NSL) Coach of the Year, winning the accolade in the 2003–04 season, the final time the award was made.
D'Avray became Technical director of the Glory in 2005 but held the position for just one season. He joined Bloemfontein Celtic
at the start of the 2008–09 season
. In January 2009 he was replaced as Coach by Owen da Gama
after a poor run of performances that left Celtic close to relegation. D'Avray remained on the staff as a development coach.
He is married to his wife Angela and has 2 children. He holds a UEFA Pro Licence.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
) is a former professional association footballer who spent the majority of his playing career at Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
. He is currently a development coach with South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
club Bloemfontein Celtic
Bloemfontein Celtic
Bloemfontein Celtic is a South African football club based in Bloemfontein, founded in 1969 as Mangaung United, and renamed in 1984 to its current name. The club currently compete in Premier Soccer League, and selected Seisa Ramabodu Stadium as their home venue...
.
Club career
D'Avray's professional football career began when he made his debut for Ipswich TownIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
at Portman Road
Portman Road
Portman Road is an association football stadium in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. It has been the home ground of Ipswich Town F.C. since 1884. The stadium has also hosted a number of England youth international matches, and one senior England friendly international match, against Croatia in 2003...
in November 1979. Over the next 11 seasons he made more than 200 appearances for the club, scoring nearly 40 goals. He also had a brief spell on loan to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
where he made three appearances during the 1986–87 season. He went on to play for Dutch club NEC Nijmegen 28 times between 1990 and 1992.
International career
While playing for Ipswich, d'Avray won two capCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
s for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
at Under-21 level. He scored once, against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
to help England into the final of the 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1984, which spanned two years , had 30 entrants. Albania, Iceland and Wales competed in the competition for the first time. England U-21s won the competition for the second time running....
.
Managerial career
D'Avray started his managerial career in 1991 with the Moroka Swallows in Johannesburg where he remained for just one season before moving to the Cape Town Spurs. He was awarded the South African Coach of the Year award in 1993 before leading the Spurs to a league and cup doubleThe Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
in the 1993–94 season. From 1993 to 1997 he coached the South African
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
Under-23 team, leading them out in 1994 for their inaugural game against Ghana
Ghana national football team
The Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association...
. He coached the squad for a total of 28 games, his final match coming in December 1997 against Uganda
Uganda national football team
The Uganda national football team, nicknamed The Cranes, is the national team of Uganda and is controlled by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations...
.
In 1998 he moved to Australia to join A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
team Perth Glory
Perth Glory FC
Perth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
as assistant manager before becoming manager in 2001. He led the team to the league title in 2003 and 2004. and succeeded Lawrie McKinna
Lawrie McKinna
Lawrie McKinna is a Scottish-Australian former football player and formerly managed Chengdu Blades in China Super League.-Club career:...
as National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
(NSL) Coach of the Year, winning the accolade in the 2003–04 season, the final time the award was made.
D'Avray became Technical director of the Glory in 2005 but held the position for just one season. He joined Bloemfontein Celtic
Bloemfontein Celtic
Bloemfontein Celtic is a South African football club based in Bloemfontein, founded in 1969 as Mangaung United, and renamed in 1984 to its current name. The club currently compete in Premier Soccer League, and selected Seisa Ramabodu Stadium as their home venue...
at the start of the 2008–09 season
Premier Soccer League 2008–09
The 2008–09 Premier Soccer League season was the thirteenth since its establishment. Supersport United were the defending champions, having won their first Premier Soccer League title on the final day of the previous season. The campaign began in August 2008, ended in May 2009...
. In January 2009 he was replaced as Coach by Owen da Gama
Owen Da Gama
Owen Da Gama is a former South African footballer, and current manager of Platinum Stars.He is also known for having coached Orlando Pirates and has previously managed current club Platinum Stars, who were previously known as Silver Stars, from 2000 until 2007.During his playing career he spent...
after a poor run of performances that left Celtic close to relegation. D'Avray remained on the staff as a development coach.
He is married to his wife Angela and has 2 children. He holds a UEFA Pro Licence.