David Unsworth
A dependable Everton stalwart turned caretaker boss, whose left foot and loyalty made him a Goodison Park fixture for over a decade.
Born 1973 (age 53)·English footballer·Birthday: October 16·Generation X
Biography
David Unsworth's story is one of solid, unflashy service. A robust and versatile defender, he carved out a long Premier League career defined by two spells at his boyhood club, Everton. While he played for several other clubs, including West Ham and Portsmouth, his heart always seemed to belong to Goodison Park, where his powerful left foot made him a threat from set-pieces and a reliable presence at the back. After retiring, he seamlessly transitioned into coaching within Everton's academy, shaping the club's future talents. He twice stepped into the breach as the club's interim manager, a testament to the deep trust and respect he commanded, embodying the bridge between the club's past and its uncertain future.
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 1973, 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 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Made over 350 appearances for Everton across two spells, scoring 40 goals, many from penalties and free-kicks.
- Won the FA Cup with Everton in 1995, coming on as a substitute in the final.
- Served as Everton's interim manager on two separate occasions following managerial departures.
- Previously managed the Everton U-23 team to a Premier League 2 title in 2019.
Did You Know?
He scored on his debut for four different clubs: Everton, West Ham United, Aston Villa, and Portsmouth.
He is one of only a handful of players to have scored in every one of England's top four divisions, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the Premier League.
He made his England U-21 debut alongside the likes of Gary Neville and Nicky Butt.
“A clean sheet at Goodison Park is better than any goal I scored.”
