Dean Cox (English footballer)
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 Cox in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dean Arthur Edward Cox[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 12 August 1987[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Haywards Heath, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Youth career | |||
| –2005 | Brighton & Hove Albion | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2010 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 146 | (16) |
| 2005 | → Eastbourne Borough (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2006 | → Bognor Regis Town (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2010–2016 | Leyton Orient | 227 | (45) |
| 2016–2018 | Crawley Town | 26 | (2) |
| 2016–2017 | → Burgess Hill Town (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2018–2021 | Eastbourne Borough | 73 | (12) |
| 2021–2022 | Worthing | 21 | (1) |
| Total | 510 | (77) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2022–2023 | Lancing | ||
| 2023 | Burgess Hill Town | ||
| 2025 | Lancing | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:19, 21 September 2025 (UTC) | |||
Dean Arthur Edward Cox (born 12 August 1987) is an English former footballer who was most recently the manager of Lancing. Cox primarily played as a winger, but also played in an attacking midfield role.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Cox was born in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.[1] He made his debut for Brighton & Hove Albion during a 2–0 victory over Plymouth Argyle on 29 August 2005.[2] During the 2005–06 season, Cox also spent time on loan at Eastbourne Borough, featuring twice in their run in the FA Cup.[3][4] Cox's next appearance for Brighton was on the first day of the 2006–07 League One season in the 1–0 victory away at Rotherham United, although he was sent off during this match for receiving two yellow cards.[5] Cox played a major part during his debut season in the first-team playing in 43 League games and scoring six goals.[6]
In the summer of 2007, Cox was rewarded for his fine start to his Albion career by being handed the number 7 shirt, previously occupied by Alexandre Frutos.
After falling out of favour at Brighton, Cox was informed that he would be released from his contract when it expired on 30 June 2010.[7]
Leyton Orient
Cox was later signed by Leyton Orient on 2 June 2010.[8] He scored his first league goal for the Os on 28 August 2010, in the 3–0 triumph over Exeter City.[9]
On 3 October 2012, in the 2–0 league victory at Walsall, Cox scored a 60-yard goal from inside the Orient half, firing over the head of Walsall goalkeeper Karl Darlow.[10]
Cox was released on 1 September 2016, his contract terminated by mutual consent.[11]
Crawley Town
On 13 September 2016, Cox joined Crawley Town on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[12]
After signing outside of the summer transfer window, Cox was ineligible to play for Crawley Town until 2 January 2017, so therefore he joined Burgess Hill Town on a loan deal.[13] On 8 October 2016, Cox made his Burgess Hill Town debut in a 3–2 victory over Leatherhead, playing the full 90 minutes.[14] On 25 October 2016, Cox scored his first goal for Burgess Hill Town in a 1–0 victory over Hendon, netting the winner in the 53rd minute.[15]
After a short loan spell with Burgess Hill Town, Cox returned to Crawley and made his debut on 2 January 2017. Featuring for 61 minutes before being replaced by Jordan Roberts, in a 2–0 home victory over Yeovil Town.[16]
On 28 June 2018, it was announced that Cox would leave Crawley, following a mutual termination in his contract.[17]
Eastbourne Borough
On 3 August 2018, a day before the season began, it was confirmed that Cox had signed for Eastbourne Borough who play in the National League South.[18] In July 2021, Cox departed the club by mutual consent.[19]
Managerial career
On 16 December 2022, it was announced that Cox would take over the managerial position at Lancing.[20]
On 27 April 2023, Cox was appointed manager of Burgess Hill Town having guided Lancing to their highest ever league position.[21]
On 6 December 2023, Cox resigned as manager of Burgess Hill Town.[22]
On 14 May 2025, Cox was re-appointed manager of former club Lancing following their relegation to the Southern Combination Premier Division.[23]
On 21 September 2025, Cox resigned as manager of Lancing.
Career statistics
- As of match played 16 February 2021.
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2005–06[24] | Championship | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07[25] | League One | 42 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4[a] | 1 | 50 | 10 | |
| 2007–08[26] | League One | 42 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 1 | 50 | 7 | |
| 2008–09[27] | League One | 40 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6[a] | 0 | 51 | 5 | |
| 2009–10[28] | League One | 21 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| Total | 146 | 16 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 179 | 22 | ||
| Eastbourne Borough (loan) | 2005–06[29] | Conference South | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | |||
| Bognor Regis Town (loan) | 2005–06[29] | Conference South | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Leyton Orient | 2010–11[30] | League One | 45 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 1 | 56 | 12 |
| 2011–12[31] | League One | 38 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1[a] | 0 | 43 | 9 | |
| 2012–13[32] | League One | 44 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5[a] | 0 | 55 | 8 | |
| 2013–14[33] | League One | 45 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6[b] | 2 | 56 | 17 | |
| 2014–15[34] | League One | 37 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3[a] | 0 | 44 | 7 | |
| 2015–16[35] | League Two | 14 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 5 | |
| 2016–17[36] | League Two | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| Total | 227 | 45 | 17 | 8 | 14 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 275 | 59 | ||
| Crawley Town | 2016–17[36] | League Two | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 |
| 2017–18[37] | League Two | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2 | ||
| Burgess Hill Town (loan) | 2016–17[36] | Isthmian League Premier Division | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[c] | 3 | 9 | 4 | |
| Eastbourne Borough | 2018–19 | National League South | 32 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | 4[d] | 4 | 39 | 12 | |
| 2019–20 | National League South | 23 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 6[e] | 2 | 30 | 4 | ||
| 2020–21 | National League South | 18 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 22 | 3 | ||
| Total | 73 | 12 | 8 | 1 | — | 10 | 6 | 91 | 19 | |||
| Career total | 489 | 76 | 39 | 12 | 22 | 4 | 45 | 14 | 595 | 106 | ||
Managerial statistics
- As of match played 16 September 2025
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Lancing | 16 December 2022 | 26 April 2023 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 36.36 |
| Burgess Hill | 27 April 2023 | 6 December 2023 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36.36 |
| Lancing | 15 May 2025 | 21 September 2025 | 13 | 3 | 2* | 8 | 23.77 |
- One of the draws was won by Lancing on penalties but this match counts as a draw in official records
