David Artell
A no-nonsense defender turned manager who leveraged a cerebral approach to the game into a coaching career after representing Gibraltar.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Gibraltarian-English football manager and former player·Birthday: November 22·Generation X
Biography
David Artell's football identity was forged in the trenches of England's lower leagues. A commanding and physically tough centre-back, he built a solid, unglamorous 17-year playing career defined by commitment over flair, turning out for a dozen clubs including Crewe Alexandra and Morecambe. His sharp intellect, honed by a degree in forensic biology, always suggested a future in management. That transition began in earnest at his former club Crewe, where he took the helm and impressively guided them to promotion from League Two. His pragmatic, data-informed methods and direct communication style have marked his managerial approach. Artell also carved a unique international chapter, qualifying through heritage to captain the Gibraltar national team during its early years of UEFA membership, embodying the fighting spirit of the nascent side.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
David was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As manager, led Crewe Alexandra to promotion from EFL League Two in the 2019-20 season.
- Won seven caps for the Gibraltar national football team, captaining the side during their initial UEFA qualification campaigns.
- Enjoyed a long playing career as a defender, making over 500 professional appearances in English football.
- Earned a first-class degree in forensic biology from the Open University while still an active player.
Did You Know?
He is a qualified chess instructor and has spoken about using chess principles in football tactics.
He worked as a chemical analyst during the off-seasons early in his playing career.
He made his international debut for Gibraltar in their first-ever official UEFA European Championship qualifier against Poland in 2014.
“The game is about players. My job is to make them better professionals.”
