Mark Robinson (football manager)

Robinson joined AFC Wimbledon in 2004, two years after the club's formation. On 30 January 2021, following the sacking of Glyn Hodges, Robinson was appointed interim manager of Wimbledon. Robinson had structured the club's hugely successful Academy, having served the club for 18 years in roles from Academy Manager, Head of Coaching to Lead professional phase coach and loans manager. Also managing the youth team for 15 years he led them to successful FA Youth Cup runs beating many Premier League Clubs along the way. On the 17 February 2021, AFC Wimbledon announced the appointment of Robinson on a permanent basis.[6] In the last 21 games he steered the form around dramatically as well as the playing style with the team playing its way out of the relegation zone and to safety, putting together the club's most consecutive wins as a professional football Club.

In the 21/22 season after the clubs best start to a season in 8 years the youngest squad in English football were top scorers in English football after 8 games as well as a record run in the Carabao Cup which ended with a loss to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. A series of injuries including main centre forward Ollie Palmer saw a dip in the Dons results. Returning players saw their form recaptured before Christmas with 3 wins and 2 draws. January saw the Club sell top scorer Ollie Palmer and the Clubs only other forward Aaron Pressley ruled out for the season through injury. A lack of fire power and further injuries to key players saw the Dons become the draw specialist as they went 20 games without a win. On the 28th March 2022, AFC Wimbledon parted company with Mark Robinson by mutual consent.[7] Just five days earlier he was publicly backed by the board.[8] The Dons winless form continued without Robinson for the rest of the season and they were relegated to League 2.

On 22 May 2022, Robinson was announced as the new Head Coach of the Development Squad for Premier League club Chelsea. In Robinson's first season as Development Squad Manager he steered a squad that in 21/22 avoided relegation the last game of the season to 22/23 title challengers. This included a 5 month unbeaten run which was the longest in 23 years for the development squad/reserves. After a disappointing last few games of the season they eventually finished third behind Man City and Liverpool.[9]