Bryan Small (born 15 November 1971) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender.
He started out as a trainee at his hometown club Aston Villa and played for a total of 11 clubs in a series of free transfers and loan deals. Small played for Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers, Luton Town, Bradford City, Bury, Stoke City and Walsall. At international level he was capped 12 times for the England under-21 team.
Playing career Small was born in Birmingham and began his career as a trainee at Aston Villa making his debut away at Everton in 1991–92. He played in 13 matches that season and made 15 appearances in 1992–93.
In 1993–94 Small played 12 times for Villa including two against Deportivo de La Coruña in the UEFA Cup. In the 1994–95 season he played five matches for Villa and had a loan spell at second city rivals Birmingham City where he played three times.
He left Villa in March 1996 for Bolton Wanderers where he made 16 appearances helping the club win the First Division in 1996–97. Small was unable to force his way into the team in the Premier League and spent time out on loan at Luton Town, Bradford City and Bury. At Bury he scored his only goal of his career against Sunderland.
In the summer 1998 Small moved to Stoke City where he made 43 appearances in 1998–99 as Stoke failed to claim a play-off place. In 1999–2000 he made nine appearances before being released in the summer of 2000. Following his release from Stoke Small had unsuccessful trials at Carlisle United and Brentford.
Another free transfer followed to Walsall but he failed to make the first team. After a loan spell at Forest Green Rovers he moved to Kettering Town before he finished his career at Hednesford Town.
Later career Small began his coaching career with Stourport Swifts and in July 2008 turned out for old club Bolton in the Masters Tournament.
Personal life Small's nephew, Thierry Small, became Everton's youngest first-team debutant when he made a brief appearance in the FA Cup as a 16-year-old in early 2021, and turned professional later that year with Southampton.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAston Villa1991–92First Division803000201301992–93Premier League1400010001501993–94Premier League900010201201994–95Premier League5000000050Total360302040450Birmingham City (loan)1994–95Second Division3000000030Bolton Wanderers1995–96Premier League10000000101996–97First Division110301000150Total120301000160Luton Town (loan)1997–98Second Division150000000150Bradford City (loan)1997–98First Division5000000050Bury1997–98First Division181000000181Stoke City1998–99Second Division3702020204301999–2000Second Division8000100090Total450203020520Walsall2000–01Second Division0000002020Forest Green Rovers (loan)2001–02Football Conference5000000050Kettering Town2002–03Football Conference7000000070Career total14618060801681
Honours Bolton Wanderers Football League First Division: 1996–97
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