David Woodfield
English footballer (1943–2025)
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David Woodfield (11 October 1943 – 1 May 2025) was an English football player and coach. He played as a central defender, making over 250 appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers during the 1960s, before concluding his playing career at Watford. Following retirement, Woodfield embarked on a coaching career that spanned several decades and continents, including a stint as Saudi Arabia national football team manager.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 October 1943 | ||
| Place of birth | Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 1 May 2025 (aged 81) | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1959–1962 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1962–1971 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 250 | (13) |
| 1967 | → Los Angeles Wolves (loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 1971–1974 | Watford | 15 | (0) |
| Total | 271 | (14) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1979 | Saudi Arabia | ||
| 2000–2001 | Sabah | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Born in Leamington Spa,[2] Woodfield joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1959, making his senior debut in 1962, and making 276 appearances for the club in all competitions before being sold to Watford in 1971.[3] During his time with Wolverhampton, he spent time at Los Angeles Wolves in the United Soccer Association.[1] At Watford he made a further 15 league appearances.[4]
Coaching career
Woodfield retired due to injury, and became a coach at Watford.[4] He then spent time as a coach under Qatar manager Frank Wignall.[5][6] In 1976, he worked with Saudi Arabia manager Bill McGarry.[7][8][9]
He later joined Newcastle United as a coach, again under McGarry.[3]
Woodfield returned to Saudi Arabia to manage the national team at the 5th Arabian Gulf Cup in 1979, where they finished third.[10][11][12]
He then spent his career abroad until 2011, primarily in Asia,[5][10] working in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil and Finland.[10]
