David Artell

David John Artell (born 22 November 1980) is a football manager and former professional player who is head coach of club Grimsby Town.

He began his career as a centre back with Rotherham United, as the "Millers" won successive promotions from the Third Division to the First Division in 1999–2000 and 2000–01.

Artell began his career with hometown club Rotherham United, making his debut as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat by Swansea City at Vetch Field on 12 October 1999 – this was his only appearance as the "Millers" won promotion as runners-up in the Third Division.

He scored his first senior goal on 23 September 2000, in a 1–1 draw with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.

Artell went on to make 40 appearances in 2000–01, as the club claimed second place in the Second Division to win a second-successive promotion.

He never featured at Millmoor in the First Division under manager Ronnie Moore.

He joined Shrewsbury Town on loan for the 2002–03 season, before successive two-year spells with Mansfield Town and Chester City, then joining Morecambe in July 2007.

Artell spent September onwards of the 2002–03 season on loan at Kevin Ratcliffe's Shrewsbury Town.

He helped the "Shrews" to knock Premier League giants Everton out of the FA Cup, but could not prevent the club from suffering relegation out of the Football League after finishing in last place.

He later said that the dressing room was divided between younger and older players.

Upon his return from the Gay Meadow, he discovered that he was to be released by Rotherham in May 2003.

Artell joined Third Division side Mansfield Town on a short-term contract at the start of the 2003–04 season.

He made 32 appearances over the course of the campaign, and was an unused substitute in the play-off final defeat to Huddersfield Town at the Millennium Stadium.

He played 23 games of the 2004–05 season, but had surgery and was then frozen out of the first team picture after manager Keith Curle was replaced by Carlton Palmer in November.

Artell followed Curle out of Field Mill and onto Chester City in July 2005; the move was surrounded by accusations of an 'illegal approach' by the "Seals".

He featured 41 times in 2005–06, retaining his first team spot at the Deva Stadium under new boss Mark Wright.

Artell went on to post 50 appearances during the 2006–07 campaign.

However, he was released by new manager Bobby Williamson in May 2007, after a period of time unsuccessfully negotiating a new contract.

In July 2007, he signed with Football League newcomers Morecambe.

In only his second competitive game for the club, he achieved hero status by scoring a late winner in a shock League Cup 2–1 success over Preston North End at Deepdale.

He went on to form a strong defensive partnership with Jim Bentley, making a total of 44 appearances in 2007–08.

After losing his first team place, manager Sammy McIlroy told Artell he could leave the club on loan in November 2008.

He instead chose to stay, and managed to win back his first team spot to play 43 games in 2008–09.

He then scored eight goals in 42 games in 2009–10, to help the "Shrimps" to win a place in the League Two play-offs with a fourth-place finish.

In the play-off semi-final second leg against Dagenham & Redbridge he scored the final goal ever at Christie Park, in what was a 2–1 win; however, Morecambe lost the tie 7–2 on aggregate.

He joined Crewe Alexandra in June 2010, and captained the "Railwaymen" to victory in the 2012 League Two play-off final.

In June 2010, Artell signed a two-year contract with Crewe Alexandra after joining on a free transfer.

He said that the chance to work closely with manager Dario Gradi excited him, and that Gradi's status as a renowned coach convinced him to join the club.

Artell was immediately appointed as co-captain, alongside Lee Bell and Ashley Westwood.

In March 2011, he had a minor bust-up with Gradi after he was substituted during a home win over Chesterfield.

He missed two months of the start of the 2011–12 season with a hamstring injury.

In December 2011, new manager Steve Davis reinstalled him as the club's captain.

However, the next month he was sent off for a "dangerous tackle" on Barnet's Izale McLeod.

He joined Port Vale in July 2012, but switched to Northampton Town the following month.

After a loan spell at Wrexham in February 2013, he joined the club on a permanent basis seven months later.

He signed with Bala Town in summer 2014, and then Port Talbot Town in February 2016, and then Kidsgrove Athletic and Droylsden in 2016.

He also won seven caps for the Gibraltar national team in 2014 and 2015.

He was appointed manager of Crewe Alexandra in January 2017 and went on to lead the club to promotion out of League Two at the end of the 2019–20 season, and became League Two Manager of the Year as a result.

In 2020–21, Crewe finished 12th in League One – the club's highest finish since 2005–06 - but the following season was one of the worst in Crewe's modern history; the club was relegated back to League Two with four games still to play, and on 11 April 2022 Crewe parted company with Artell.

He took charge at Grimsby Town in November 2023.