Jason John Blunt (born 16 August 1977) is an English football coach and former professional footballer who played in midfield.

Jason Blunt
Personal information
Full name Jason John Blunt
Date of birth (1977-08-16) 16 August 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Penzance, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
I2I International Soccer Academy (Coach)
Youth career
–1995 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1998 Leeds United 4 (0)
1998Raith Rovers (loan) 1 (0)
1998–1999 Blackpool 2 (0)
2001–2003 Scarborough 80 (8)
2003Yeovil Town (loan) 1 (0)
2003 Doncaster Rovers 13 (3)
2003–2004 Tamworth 50 (1)
2004–2005 Halifax Town 25 (1)
2005–2006Scarborough (loan) 5 (0)
2007 Sutton Town
2007–2009 Goole
International career
England U18 2 (0)
Managerial career
2007 Sutton Town
2024 Doncaster City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:46, 24 March 2018 (UTC)

He currently works for I2I International Soccer Academy after leaving his role as the Leeds United academy as the under-23s manager in the summer of 2017, after a spell as development squad manager as well as under-18s manager.

Blunt left his role at Mousehole AFC in March 2018 to join I2I International Soccer Academy as Lead Coach.

Playing career

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He began his playing career with Leeds United, making a handful of first-team appearances in the Premier League for the club, making his first team debut under Howard Wilkinson, however, Blunt found places hard to come by with likes of Lee Bowyer, Carlton Palmer, Alfie Haaland, Bruno Ribeiro, Matt Jones and Stephen McPhail all vying for places in Leeds' central midfield, before moving into the Football League and non-League football.[1]

Coaching career

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Blunt, who managed Sutton Town for six months in 2007, now coaches sports and physical education at Wakefield Independent School while coaching at Leeds United Academy.[2]

After coaching Leeds' under-12 team, after Richard Naylor left the club in the summer of 2014, Blunt became the new coach of Leeds' under-18s and the development squad manager. For the final five games of the 2014/15 season, Blunt assisted the then Leeds head coach Neil Redfearn in the first team after the suspension of Redfearn's assistant Steve Thompson.

On 5 August 2015, Leeds United appointed Daral Pugh as the head of academy coaching, effectively replacing Redfearn and Blunt (who had previously been filling in for Redfearn during his spell as head coach of the first team), and John Anderson became under-18s manager. Blunt was named as a coach to work alongside Anderson.[3]

On 24 June 2016, Blunt was promoted to under-23's/development squad manager.[4]

On 7 June 2017, Blunt left his position at Leeds to join Mousehole AFC.[5]

In March 2018 Blunt left his role at Mousehole AFC to join I2I International Soccer Academy as Lead Coach.

On 1 October 2024, Blunt joined Doncaster City as manager.[6]

International career

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During his playing career he represented England U18's in games again France and Scotland.[7]

Personal life

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His son, Connor Leak-Blunt, is also a footballer, and after progressing through the academies of Leeds United and Sheffield United, entered non-league football.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ "About The Academy". Leeds United. 2013.
  2. ^ "About The Academy". Leeds United. 2013.
  3. ^ "Leeds United: We've no plans to scale back Thorp Arch academy – Pearson". Yorkshire Evening Post. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  4. ^ "ACADEMY: 2016/17 STRUCTURE CONFIRMED". Leeds United Official Site. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Jason Blunt quits role as Leeds United development squad coach". Leeds United Official Site. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  6. ^ Coates, Tom (1 October 2024). "Former Leeds United, Doncaster Rovers and Blackpool man lands non-league managerial role". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Blunt´s New Role". Halifax Town AFC. 7 February 2008. Archived from the original on 13 April 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2008.
  8. ^ "ACADEMY: 2018 SCHOLARS SIGN UP". Leeds United. 26 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Connor Leak-Blunt - Belper Town FC First Team". Belper Town FC. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
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