Mkdons.com goes over both the playing and coaching career of Mark Jackson before he was appointed as Head Coach of MK Dons.
Playing career
Before he adopted a coaching role, Mark Jackson provided a 20-year tenure as a football player. Jackson featured as a defender for multiple clubs during his time on the field, but he’s mostly known for his service towards Leeds United.
The current Head Coach of MK Dons progressed through the White’s Youth system before he made his senior debut in a Premier League fixture against Middlesborough in 1995. Jackson then continued his time with Leeds for a further five years, whilst serving two loan moves to Huddersfield Town and Barnsley within that time.
Whilst he was a Leeds player, Jackson was called-up to the England Under-20s national team. He featured for the young Three Lions a total of four times.
In the year 2000, Jackson then transferred to Scunthorpe United. The defender amounted a total of 140 appearances and scored his first Senior goal with the Iron. He increased his goal tally to four during his five-year contribution to the club.
A transfer to Kidderminster Harriers followed his spell with Scunthorpe. Jackson would feature there during the 2005/2006 campaign before another season-long deal followed the year after at Rochdale.
Finally, Jackson represented Farsley Celtic, where he saw out the end of his playing career after he announced his retirement in 2015. Jackson had hung up his boots with 290 appearances and nine goals to his name.
Coaching career
Once his time on the pitch concluded, Mark Jackson re-joined his hometown club Leeds, as an Under-16s coach.
The young coach developed for two years before he was positioned as the manager for Leeds United’s Under-18s team. In their first season with only Jackson at the helm, the young Whites placed first and won the Professional Development Northern League title. He helped progress the Under-18s for a further two years, before he received a promotion to become the Under-23’s Head Coach in 2020.
Jackson then followed-up his success with yet another age group within the White’s Youth system, which granted the Under-23s a Premier League Two Division Two title. The team remained unbeaten at home during their success, and it was the Head Coach’s first season leading that side.
Following the departure of Marcelo Bielsa in the early stages of 2022, Jesse Marsch was signed to the vacant First-Team Head Coach position for Leeds United.
Marsch had then appointed Mark Jackson to help support him as a First-Team Coach. Leeds then abolished their relegation troubles after they had battled through the end of their 2021/22 campaign, which allowed them to finish three-points clear of the drop-zone.
Mark Jackson then left his hometown club to take the helm at MK Dons, where he was appointed with the Head Coach position on 23 December.
