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Lee Sharp

Lee Sharp (born 22 May 1975 in Glasgow) is a Scottish professional football coach and former defender, best known for his tenure as an assistant manager in Scottish football clubs, including his current role with Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership. As a player, Sharp began his career with Dumbarton in 1995, where he made 29 league appearances and scored 1 goal before transferring to Dundee in 1998. At Dundee, he featured in the Scottish Premiership, accumulating 15 league appearances and 2 goals over two seasons. His career continued in the lower divisions with brief stints at St Mirren (4 league appearances) and Ayr United (22 league appearances, 3 goals), followed by his longest spell at Stranraer from 2002 to 2011, where he recorded 182 league appearances and 11 goals. Sharp concluded his playing days at Clyde from 2011 to 2013 (retiring in July 2013), adding 46 league appearances and 1 goal to his tally. Across his professional career, he amassed 298 league appearances and 18 league goals, primarily as a left-back. Transitioning to coaching, Sharp obtained a UEFA A Licence and began in youth development at Clyde, serving as U18 manager in 2013–2014 and U20 manager from 2014 to 2016. He advanced to his first assistant manager role at Athletic from 2016 to 2019. Sharp joined St Mirren as assistant manager in 2019, remaining until 2022, after which he moved to in the same capacity until early 2023. In March 2023, he was appointed assistant manager at Dundee United under , a position he continues to hold as of the 2025–26 season.

Early life

Birth and upbringing

Lee Sharp was born on 22 May 1975 in , . At 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) tall, Sharp grew up in . Detailed accounts of his family background remain limited in public records.

Youth football development

Lee Sharp developed his early football skills within the city's local youth and systems. He played for Possil YM before joining Ashfield Juniors, a Glasgow-based club in the West of Scotland . By the mid-1990s, Sharp's performances in caught the attention of senior clubs. In 1995, at the age of 20, he signed his first professional contract with , marking the end of his youth development phase.

Playing career

Dumbarton

Lee Sharp signed his first professional contract with Dumbarton on 11 December 1995, joining from junior side Ashfield. He made his senior debut shortly thereafter in the Scottish First Division, marking the start of his professional career at the age of 20. During his tenure from 1995 to 1999, Sharp established himself as a versatile left-sided player, primarily operating as a left-back or midfielder. He featured in 111 appearances across all competitions, contributing 16 goals, which highlighted his attacking contributions from defensive positions. Sharp played a key role in Dumbarton's campaigns during a challenging period that included relegation from the First Division in 1995–96 and from the Second Division in 1996–97, as the club struggled in the lower tiers of Scottish football. By September 1998, he had reached his 100th appearance for the club in a Third Division match against Brechin City. Although specific standout matches are not extensively documented, his consistent involvement underscored his importance to the squad amid successive drops to the Third Division by 1997–98, where Dumbarton finished bottom. Sharp departed Dumbarton in December 1998, transferring to for a nominal fee after four seasons at the club. This move represented a step up to a higher division, ending his formative professional spell at .

Dundee

Lee Sharp joined in December 1998, signing from on a nominal fee under manager , who sought to bolster the squad for the . This move marked Sharp's transition from the second tier, where he had developed as a versatile left-back during four seasons at , to the demands of top-flight . During his tenure from 1998 to 2000, Sharp made 20 appearances for , scoring 2 goals, primarily featuring in the as a defensive option capable of contributing offensively. His debut came on 16 December 1998 in a 2–1 league defeat to , and he quickly adapted to the higher competitive level, netting his first goal for the club from a penalty in a 2–1 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle on 30 December 1998. Sharp's second goal arrived in a 1–2 home loss to on 21 August 1999, showcasing his set-piece threat amid Dundee's mid-table SPL campaigns under Scott. His role emphasized defensive solidity on the left flank, with occasional forays forward, though injuries and squad depth limited him to sporadic starts in cups and league matches. Sharp departed in September 2000, released as part of squad reshaping following the controversial era, before joining St Mirren on a free transfer.

St Mirren

Sharp signed for St Mirren on a free transfer in September 2000 following his release from . During the 2000–01 season, he made 6 appearances in all competitions without scoring, primarily as a substitute in the Scottish First Division. His limited involvement reflected the squad's depth and his adaptation challenges after top-flight experience. Sharp left St Mirren in January 2001, transferring to Ayr United.

Ayr United

Lee Sharp transferred to Ayr United from St Mirren on 12 January 2001, initially on trial before signing permanently. Following a brief and limited involvement at St Mirren, his move to Ayr marked a period of greater consistency in the Scottish First Division. During the 2001–02 season, Sharp featured regularly, often as a substitute, making 22 league appearances (14 as substitute) and scoring 3 goals, alongside 4 cup appearances where he netted once, for a total of 4 goals across all competitions. Sharp played a key role in Ayr United's solid defensive setup, contributing to a third-place finish in the First Division standings, their highest league position that season behind promoted sides Partick Thistle and Airdrieonians. The team demonstrated resilience in the lower tiers, with Sharp helping stabilize the backline amid a competitive campaign. His experience from previous clubs added depth to a squad that included notable players like Pat McGinlay and John Hughes. Ayr United's season was particularly highlighted by impressive cup performances, where Sharp was part of the side that reached the CIS Insurance Cup final—losing to Rangers—and the Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic. These runs included victories over Premier League opposition such as Dunfermline Athletic (3–0) and Dundee United (after a replay), underscoring the team's ability to punch above their weight. Sharp noted the appeal of manager Gordon Dalziel's project and the presence of former Dundee teammates James Grady and Eddie Annand as factors in his productive stint. At the end of the 2001–02 season, Sharp departed Ayr United, transferring to on 1 July 2002.

Stranraer

Lee Sharp joined from Ayr United in August 2002, marking the beginning of his nine-year association with the club in the Scottish lower divisions. During his tenure from 2002 to 2011, Sharp made over 230 appearances and scored 15 goals across all competitions, establishing himself as a reliable left-back and a symbol of loyalty in the lower leagues. A key highlight of his time at was contributing to the club's 2003–04 Scottish Third Division title win, where he featured in the decisive 4–0 victory over Albion Rovers that clinched the championship at Stair Park. Sharp departed in July 2011 at the age of 36, signing for Clyde to continue his playing career.

Clyde

Sharp signed for Clyde on a free transfer in July 2011, joining the Scottish Second Division club to continue his playing career as a left-back. During the 2011–13 seasons, he made 45 league appearances and scored 1 goal, contributing to the team's efforts in after promotion in 2011–12. Sharp retired from playing in July 2013 at age 38, concluding his professional career with over 400 appearances.

Coaching career

Clyde

Following his retirement from playing at Clyde, Lee Sharp transitioned directly into a coaching role with the club in 2013, where he was appointed as of the under-19 team alongside Eddie Annand. This marked the beginning of his focus on development at the club, emphasizing the nurturing of young talent within the academy structure. During his tenure from 2013 to 2016, Sharp advanced to of the under-20 development squad in 2014 and was subsequently named head of development later that year. In these positions, he managed the academy, overseeing player development programs designed to prepare prospects for senior , including sessions, match preparation, and skill enhancement for the club's top junior age groups. His work contributed to the overall support of Clyde's first team by fostering a pipeline of emerging players from the academy ranks. Sharp departed Clyde in January 2016 to take up a first-team coaching position at Alloa Athletic, concluding a three-year stint that laid the foundation for his broader coaching career.

Alloa Athletic

In January 2016, Lee Sharp was appointed as first-team coach at Alloa Athletic, transitioning from his youth coaching role at Clyde to support the senior squad in the . This move marked his entry into professional first-team coaching, where he assisted head coach Jack Ross in match preparation and player development sessions, contributing to the team's strong start to the 2016–17 season. Sharp's tenure from 2016 to 2019 saw Alloa achieve promotion to the Scottish Championship as runners-up in League One during the 2016–17 campaign, a success built on consistent performances under Ross and later Jim Goodwin, whom Sharp joined as assistant manager after Goodwin's appointment in October 2016. In the more competitive Championship environment from 2017 onward, Sharp played a key role in tactical planning and training regimens, helping the team secure survival in 2017–18 by defeating Dumbarton 2–1 on aggregate in the promotion/relegation play-offs. The following season, Alloa finished eighth, maintaining their second-tier status through focused efforts on defensive organization and squad conditioning. His collaboration with Goodwin during this period laid the foundation for their long-term coaching partnership. In June 2019, Sharp departed Alloa to join St Mirren as assistant manager alongside Goodwin.

St Mirren

In June 2019, Lee Sharp was appointed assistant manager at St Mirren under new head coach Jim Goodwin, marking his return to the club where he had enjoyed a brief playing stint nearly two decades prior, making just four appearances after signing on a free transfer in 2000. This appointment came shortly after Goodwin's arrival from Alloa Athletic, where the pair had previously collaborated successfully, bringing Sharp's experience to support the team's efforts in the Scottish Premiership. Sharp's tenure lasted from June 2019 until February 2022, during which he played a pivotal role in navigating the challenges of top-flight competition, including intense matches against powerhouse clubs like and Rangers, while helping the team secure consistent mid-table stability to avoid relegation battles. His contributions were instrumental in fostering a structured approach amid the physical and tactical demands of the Premiership, where St Mirren often relied on disciplined defending and opportunistic counter-attacks to compete effectively. As assistant, Sharp's responsibilities encompassed supporting Goodwin with tactical input, opponent analysis, and squad management, including identifying key weaknesses in rival setups—such as those of —and emphasizing the team's core strengths to maximize performance. He also focused on player development, particularly guiding younger talents to remain composed under pressure during high-stakes fixtures like cup semi-finals, contributing to notable victories over teams like . This collaborative dynamic with Goodwin, built on mutual respect from their earlier partnership, helped cultivate a resilient squad environment throughout the three Premiership seasons. Sharp departed St Mirren on 19 February 2022, following Goodwin to a new opportunity at , leaving behind a legacy of steady progress for the Buddies in the upper echelons of Scottish .

Aberdeen

Lee Sharp joined as assistant manager on 19 February 2022, accompanying who was appointed head manager on a two-and-a-half-year contract. This move followed Goodwin's successful stint at St Mirren, where Sharp had served as his assistant since 2019. Sharp's role involved supporting tactical preparations and player development at the Premiership club, drawing on his prior coaching experience in Scottish . Sharp's tenure at Aberdeen lasted from February 2022 until 28 January 2023, spanning the latter part of the 2021–22 season and the early months of 2022–23. During the 2021–22 campaign, Sharp assisted Goodwin in stabilizing the team after inheriting a side winless in six league games and positioned eighth in the table; Aberdeen ultimately finished 10th, their lowest league placing in over a decade, but secured Premiership survival with a nine-game unbeaten run toward the season's end. In the 2022–23 season, the duo oversaw a strong start, with Aberdeen winning their opening five Premiership matches, including a 5–0 home victory over Livingston on 27 2022, positioning the Dons third in the table by mid-September. Sharp contributed to sessions focused on defensive and counter-attacking play, which underpinned this early success. In domestic cup competitions, played a key role in 's run to the semi-finals, highlighted by a dramatic 2–1 extra-time victory over Rangers on 15 January 2023 at Pittodrie, where the team overcame a first-half deficit through strategic substitutions and set-piece execution. This marked 's first win against Rangers in over eight years and advanced them to face in the semi-final, though they lost 1–0. 's input was also evident in the , where reached the group stage but exited early after finishing second in their group behind Rangers. Overall, during 's time, recorded 15 wins in 43 competitive matches under Goodwin, emphasizing a pragmatic style that prioritized solidity at the back. Sharp's departure from occurred on 28 January 2023, when he was sacked alongside Goodwin following a 6–0 Premiership defeat to Hibernian on 24 January, part of an alarming post-World Cup slump that saw the winless in seven league games and drop to eighth place. The cited an "unacceptable run of results" as the reason for the dismissals, ending a high-profile but turbulent 11-month spell marked by initial promise and later inconsistency.

Dundee United

Lee Sharp joined Dundee United as assistant manager on 3 March 2023, forming part of head coach Jim Goodwin's backroom team following their previous collaboration at . In this role, Sharp supports Goodwin in daily coaching responsibilities, including tactical planning, player development, and match preparation, contributing to the club's strategic direction. His appointment brought continuity to the staff amid Dundee United's efforts to rebuild after relegation from the . During the 2023–24 season, Sharp played a key role in United's campaign, helping the team secure the title with a dominant record of 22 wins, 9 draws, and 5 losses, earning 75 points and automatic back to the top flight. This success marked a swift return to the Premiership, underscoring the effective partnership between Goodwin and Sharp in implementing a balanced tactical approach focused on defensive solidity and counter-attacking efficiency. In December 2023, Sharp's long-term partner died after a period of illness. Sharp's tenure has extended into the , with Dundee United finishing 4th in the 2024–25 with 53 points from 38 matches (15 wins, 8 draws, 15 losses) and qualifying for the Conference League second qualifying round for the first time in several years. As of November 2025, in the ongoing 2025–26 season, the team sits 7th in the table with 14 points from 11 matches (3 wins, 5 draws, 3 losses), demonstrating resilience with notable results such as a 3–1 victory over St Mirren, while continuing to refine tactical elements like set-piece execution under Sharp's involvement.

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