View source for Milton Keynes Dons F.C.

{{Short description|Football club in Milton Keynes, England}}
{{About|the association football club from Milton Keynes, formed under this name in 2004|its origins|Wimbledon F.C.|and|Relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes|the women's team|Milton Keynes Dons F.C. Women}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Milton Keynes Dons
| image = Milton Keynes Dons FC crest.svg
| upright = 0.8
| alt = MK Dons badge
| fullname = Milton Keynes Dons Football Club
| nickname = The Dons
| short name = MK Dons
| ground = [[Stadium MK]]
| capacity = 30,500
| chairman = Fahad Al Ghamin
| manager = [[Scott Lindsey]]
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| league = {{English football updater|MiltonKD}}
| season = {{English football updater|MiltonKD2}}
| position = {{English football updater|MiltonKD3}}
| current = 2024–25 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season
| website = http://www.mkdons.com
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| founded = [[Relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes|21 June 2004]]; {{Age in years|21 June 2004}} years ago{{#tag:ref|In terms of its footballing assets and place in the [[English football league system|English football league structure]], Milton Keynes Dons F.C. is the continuation of [[Wimbledon F.C.]], which was formed in south London in 1889 and [[relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes|relocated]] to Milton Keynes in 2003. The club was brought out of [[administration (British football)|administration]] in 2004 as a new company, Milton Keynes Dons Ltd, which purchased the assets of The Wimbledon Football Club Ltd and received the team's place in [[Football League One]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Dons out of administration |date=1 July 2004 |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/304402/dons-out-of-administration |publisher=[[ESPN]] |access-date=17 February 2015 |quote=A club statement read: 'InterMK are pleased to announce that the Football League have today issued their final approval of the voluntary arrangement (CVA) and confirmed the transfer of the Wimbledon FC League share to Milton Keynes Dons Ltd, bringing certainty to a future for the football club in Milton Keynes.' |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217123255/http://www.espnfc.com/story/304402/dons-out-of-administration |archive-date=17 February 2015
}}</ref> The Wimbledon Football Club Ltd legally endured until 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=WebCHeck |url=http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk//companysearch?disp=1&frfsh=1424163830&#result |location=London |publisher=[[Companies House]] |access-date=17 February 2015 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229053844/http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/ |archive-date=29 December 2008}}</ref> Since 2006 Milton Keynes Dons has officially considered itself a new club, formed in 2004—it no longer claims any history before then, despite retaining Wimbledon F.C.'s "Dons" nickname.<ref name=fsf1>{{cite web|title=The Accord 2006|url=http://www.mkdsa.co.uk/documents/archive/2006The_Accord.pdf|publisher=[[Football Supporters' Federation]]|location=Sunderland|date=2 October 2006|access-date=17 February 2015}}; {{cite news|title=MK Dons agree to return Wimbledon trophies to Merton—and sanction amendments to football statistics|url=http://www.mkdsa.co.uk/documents/archive/2007FSF%20statement%20lifting%20boycott%20of%20MK%20Dons.pdf
|publisher=Football Supporters' Federation|location=Sunderland|date=29 June 2007|access-date=17 February 2015|quote=And, on behalf of both clubs, the FSF respectfully requests that, with immediate effect, our media colleagues now refer to MK Dons in relation ONLY to matches played since their first Football League fixture was fulfilled against Barnsley on August 7, 2004.}}</ref>|group="n"|name="founded"}}
}}

'''Milton Keynes Dons Football Club''', usually abbreviated to '''MK Dons''', is a professional [[association football]] club based in [[Milton Keynes]], [[Buckinghamshire]], England. The team competes in [[EFL League Two]], the fourth level of the [[English football league system]]. The club was founded in 2004, following [[Wimbledon F.C.]]'s controversial [[Relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes|relocation to Milton Keynes]] from south London, when it adopted its present name, badge and home colours.{{#tag:ref|The club abandoned its claim to any history before 2004 in October 2006 as part of an agreement with the [[Football Supporters' Federation]], which had previously boycotted the team and its supporters' groups. Under this deal Milton Keynes Dons transferred Wimbledon F.C.'s trophies and other patrimony to [[Merton London Borough Council|Merton Council]] in south London in 2007.<ref name=fsf1/>|group="n"|name="before2004"}}

Initially based at the [[National Hockey Stadium (Milton Keynes)|National Hockey Stadium]], the club competed as Milton Keynes Dons from the start of the [[2004–05 Football League|2004–05]] season. The club moved to their current ground, [[Stadium MK]], for the [[2007–08 Football League|2007–08]] season, in which they won the League Two title and the [[2007–08 Football League Trophy|Football League Trophy]]. After seven further seasons in League One, the club won promotion to the [[EFL Championship|Championship]] in 2015 under the management of [[Karl Robinson]]; however, they were relegated back to League One after one season.

Milton Keynes Dons have built a reputation for youth development,<ref>{{cite web |last=Blake |first=Donovan |date=18 November 2016 |title=Five reasons why MK Dons would be a great first job for Steven Gerrard |url=http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2016-11-18/five-reasons-why-mk-dons-would-be-a-great-first-job-for-steven-gerrard/ |access-date=6 February 2018 |website=ITV News}}</ref> run 16 [[Paralympic Football|disability teams]] and their football trust engages around 60,000 people; between 2012 and 2013 the club produced 11 young players who have been called into age group national teams and between 2004 and 2014 the club also gave first-team debuts to 14 local academy graduates, including the [[England national football team|England international]] midfielder [[Dele Alli]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The next Gerrard ready for lift-off? |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/29251977 |access-date=23 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Osborne |first=Chris |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24287468|title=MK Dons: A decade of football in Milton Keynes |work=BBC Sport|date=27 September 2013}}</ref>

The club also operates a women's team, [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C. Women|Milton Keynes Dons Women]], who groundshare Stadium MK with their male counterparts, and currently play in the third tier of the English women's football pyramid.<ref>{{cite web|date=13 September 2021|title=Report: Women 7 Keynsham Town 1|url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2021/september/report-women-7-1-keynsham-town|access-date=18 September 2021|publisher=www.mkdons.com}}</ref>

==Origins==
<!--Advice to editors: this is not a fan site. Factual statements only-->
<!--Note to editors: this is not a fan site. Any material MUST be factual. It is not a place for might have beens, should have beens or could have beens. If you wish to write opinion, please use the discussion page instead. Please note also that discussion about the decisions made by the Norwegian directors of Wimbledon FC belongs in the Relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes article, and not here.-->
{{Main|Relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes}}
{{Further|Wimbledon F.C.}}
{{location map+ |England |float=right |width=200 |caption=Locations of [[Plough Lane (1912–98)|Plough Lane]], [[Selhurst Park]] and [[Milton Keynes]]|places=
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.037739  |long=-0.775014 |label=<div style="position:relative;position:relative;top:-3px;right:3px;"><span style="background:white;">Milton&nbsp;Keynes</span></div>|position=left}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.428472 |long=-0.189667 |label=<div style="position:relative;top:2px;"><span style="background:white;">Plough Lane</span></div>|position=left}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.398289 |long=-0.085536 |label=<div style="position:relative;top:12px;right:22px;"><span style="background:white;">Selhurst Park</span></div>|position=right}}
}}
[[Milton Keynes]], about {{convert|45|mi}} north-west of London in [[Buckinghamshire]], was established as a [[new towns in the United Kingdom|new town]] in 1967.<ref name="mkweb1">{{cite web
| title = History in Milton Keynes
| url = http://www.mkweb.co.uk/Milton_Keynes_General/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=285
| work = MK Web
| location = Cambridge
| publisher = Iliffe News and Media Limited
| access-date = 9 May 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120728111624/http://www.mkweb.co.uk/milton_keynes_general/displayarticle.asp?ID=285
| archive-date = 28 July 2012
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> In the absence of a professional football club representing the town—none of the local [[non-League football|non-league]] teams progressed significantly through the [[English football league system]] or "pyramid" over the following decades—it was occasionally suggested that a [[The Football League|Football League]] club might [[Relocation of professional sports teams|relocate]] there. There was no precedent in English league football for such a move between [[conurbation]]s and the football authorities and most fans expressed strong opposition to the idea.<ref>{{cite book
 | title = Sport, Space and the City
 | first = John
 | last = Bale
 | year = 1993
 | publisher = [[Routledge]]
 | location = London
 | isbn = 0-415-08098-3
 | page = [https://archive.org/details/sportspacecity0000bale/page/70 70]
 | url-access = registration
 | url = https://archive.org/details/sportspacecity0000bale/page/70
 }}; {{cite book
 | title = Football Nation: Sixty Years of the Beautiful Game
 | first1 = Andrew
 | last1 = Ward
 | first2 = John
 | last2 = Williams
 | year = 2010
 | orig-year = 2009
 | publisher = [[Bloomsbury Publishing]]
 | location = London
 | isbn = 978-1-4088-0126-0
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/footballnationsi0000ward/page/362 362–363]
 | url = https://archive.org/details/footballnationsi0000ward/page/362
 }}; {{cite book
  | title = Report of the Independent Commission on Wimbledon F.C.'s wish to relocate to Milton Keynes
  | first1 = Raj
  | last1 = Parker
  | first2 = Steve
  | last2 = Stride
  | author2-link=Steve Stride
  | first3 = Alan
  | last3 = Turvey
  | url = http://www.wisa.org.uk/cgi/l/files/20020530_fa.pdf
  | publisher = [[The Football Association]]
  | date = 28 May 2002
| page=21}}{{dead link|date=June 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] briefly mooted moving to "a progressive Midlands borough" during a planning dispute with their local council in 1973,<ref>{{cite journal
 | first=Robert
 | last=Southgate
 | title = Interview with Rodney Stone
 | date = 5 April 1973
 | location = London
 | journal = The Kentish Independent}}; {{cite journal
 | date = 14 April 1973
 | title = Programme Notes
 | publisher = [[Charlton Athletic F.C.]]
 | journal = Charlton Athletic Match Programme
 | page = 2}}</ref> and the relocation of nearby [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] to Milton Keynes was repeatedly suggested from the 1980s onwards.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Luton Town 1 MK Dons 0
| work = [[When Saturday Comes]]
| date = June 2005
| url = http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/1623/29/
| access-date = 22 November 2010
| quote = Thus the spectre of Luton moving to Milton Keynes has been raised regularly over the years, but the opposition of either the fans (vehement) or the Football League (ironic, given that it was on the basis of a club moving out of its area) always came to the rescue.
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090309012924/http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/1623/29/
| archive-date = 9 March 2009
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> Another team linked with the new town was [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon Football Club]].<ref name=noadesradio>{{cite news
  | last = Noades
  | first = Ron
  | author-link = Ron Noades
  | title = I looked at MK in the 70's
  | publisher = BBC
  | date = 1 April 2001
  | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1100000/audio/_1101075_noades_dons.ram
  | access-date = 30 May 2009 }}</ref>

Wimbledon, established in south London in 1889 and nicknamed "the Dons", were elected to the Football League in 1977. They thereafter went through a "fairytale" rise from obscurity and by the end of the 1980s were established in the top division of English football.<ref name=toobigfortheirroots>{{cite news
| title = Too big for their roots
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/1470328.stm
| website = BBC News
| first = Stuart
| last = Roach
| date =2 August 2001
| access-date = 31 August 2009}}</ref> Despite Wimbledon's new prominence, the club's modest home stadium at [[Plough Lane (1912–98)|Plough Lane]] remained largely unchanged from its non-league days.<ref name=toobigfortheirroots/> The club's then-owner [[Ron Noades]] identified this as a problem as early as 1979, extending his dissatisfaction to the ground's very location. Interested in the stadium site designated by the [[Milton Keynes Development Corporation]], Noades briefly planned to move Wimbledon there by merging with a non-league club in Milton Keynes, and bought debt-ridden [[Milton Keynes City F.C.|Milton Keynes City]]. However, Noades then decided that the club would not gain sufficient support in Milton Keynes and abandoned the idea.<ref name=noadesradio/>

In 1991, after the [[Taylor Report]] was published recommending the redevelopment of English football grounds, Wimbledon left Plough Lane to [[groundshare]] at [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]'s ground, [[Selhurst Park]], about {{convert|6|mi}} away. [[Sam Hammam]], who then owned Wimbledon, said the club could not afford to redevelop Plough Lane and that the groundshare was a temporary arrangement while a new ground was sourced in south-west London. A new stadium for Wimbledon proved difficult to achieve.<ref name=toobigfortheirroots/> Frustrated by what he perceived as a lack of support from [[Merton London Borough Council|Merton Council]], Hammam began to look further afield and by 1996 was pursuing a move to [[Dublin]], an idea that most Wimbledon fans strongly opposed.<ref name="balls">{{cite news
| first=Conor
| last=Neville
| title = Balls Remembers: The Complete Story Of How Dublin Almost Got A Premier League Team
| url = http://balls.ie/football/balls-remembers-complete-story-wimbledon-almost-came-dublin/
| work = Balls.ie
| location=Dublin
| publisher = Balls Media Ltd
| date = 18 September 2014
| access-date = 17 October 2014}}</ref> Hammam sold the club to two Norwegian businessmen, [[Kjell Inge Røkke]] and [[Bjørn Rune Gjelsten]], in 1997,<ref name="hammamsellsup">{{cite news
| title = Hammam sells up without moving out
| first=Phil
| last=Shaw
| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/hammam-sells-up-without-moving-out-1255570.html
| work = [[The Independent]]
| publisher = Independent News & Media
| location=London
| date = 12 June 1997
| access-date = 31 August 2009}}</ref> and a year later sold Plough Lane to [[Safeway (UK)|Safeway]] supermarkets.<ref name=mihirbose>{{cite news
| title = Hammam cast in villain's role as Dons seek happy ending
| first = Mihir
| last = Bose
| author-link = Mihir Bose
| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/championship/3010879/Inside-Sport-Hammam-cast-in-villains-role-as-Dons-seek-happy-ending.html
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130421092913/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/championship/3010879/Inside-Sport-Hammam-cast-in-villains-role-as-Dons-seek-happy-ending.html
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 21 April 2013
| work = The Daily Telegraph
| location=London
| date = 16 August 2001
| access-date = 31 October 2009}}</ref> Wimbledon were [[promotion and relegation|relegated]] from the [[Premier League]] at the end of the [[1999–2000 Premier League|1999–2000]] season.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Wimbledon on move to Milton Keynes
| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/3010002/Wimbledon-on-move-to-Milton-Keynes.html
| work = Daily Telegraph
| publisher = Telegraph Media Group
| location=London
| first = Sam
| last = Wallace
| date = 2 August 2001
| access-date = 20 November 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Winkelman, Pete.jpg|thumb|[[Pete Winkelman]], in 2011|alt=A man in a dark suit with wispy brown hair and a wide smile looks into the camera.]]
Starting in 1997,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons/ten-years-of-stadium-mk-no-threat-of-the-ground-being-a-white-elephant-1-8061598/amp|title=Ten years of Stadium MK: No Threat of Ground Being a White Elephant|last=Lock|first=Toby|date=17 July 2017|work=The Milton Keynes Citizen|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref>  a consortium led by music promoter [[Pete Winkelman]] and supported by [[Asda]] (a [[Walmart]] subsidiary) and [[IKEA]] proposed a large retail development in Milton Keynes including a Football League-standard stadium.<ref name=cloake14>{{cite news
| title = Why MK Dons' 4–0 victory over Manchester United didn't cause universal joy
| url = http://www.newstatesman.com/lifestyle/2014/08/why-mk-dons-4-0-victory-over-manchester-united-didn-t-cause-universal-joy
| work = [[New Statesman]]
| first = Martin
| last = Cloake
| location=London
| date = 29 August 2014
| access-date = 29 November 2014}}</ref><ref name=conn2012>{{cite news
| title = Peter Winkelman: 'I'm not proud of how football came to Milton Keynes'
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/nov/27/peter-winkelman-mk-dons-afc-wimbledon
| work = [[The Guardian]]
| publisher = Guardian News and Media
| first = David
| last = Conn
| location=London
| date = 27 November 2012
| access-date = 29 November 2014}}</ref> The consortium originally proposed that the stadium be located at the National Bowl but later altered their proposal to change the site of the proposed stadium to Denbigh North, the same site as the mooted retail development.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/528996/response/1285225/attach/4/ITEM24%20Redacted.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1|title=Item 24, Milton Keynes Council Policy and Resources Committee, 29 March 2000|last=Milton Keynes Council|date=29 March 2000|website=What Do They Know|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref>

The consortium proposed that an established league club move to use this site;<ref name="cloake14" /><ref name="conn2012" /> it approached Luton, Wimbledon, Crystal Palace, [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]], and [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]].<ref>{{cite web
| title = Relocation, relocation
| work = [[When Saturday Comes]]
| date = February 2007
| first = Gavin
| last = Willacy
| url = http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/591/29/
| access-date = 1 November 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080704200226/http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/591/29/
| archive-date = 4 July 2008
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> In 2001 Røkke and Gjelsten appointed a new chairman, Charles Koppel, who was in favour of this idea, saying it was necessary to stop the club going out of business.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 November 2002 |title=Move or die: 'A whole raft of us believe it is better to live, even if somewhere else' |work=[[The Independent]] |publisher=Independent News & Media |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/move-or-die-a-whole-raft-of-us-believe-it-is-better-to-live-even-if-somewhere-else-127138.html |access-date=31 August 2009}}</ref> To the fury of most Wimbledon fans,<ref name="oppositiontomove" /> Koppel announced on 2 August 2001 that the club intended to [[Relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes|relocate to Milton Keynes]]. After the Football League refused permission, Wimbledon launched an appeal, leading to a [[The Football Association|Football Association]] arbitration hearing and subsequently the appointment of a three-man independent commission to make a final and binding verdict. The league and FA stated opposition but the commissioners ruled in favour, two to one, on 28 May 2002.<ref>{{cite book
  | title = Report of the Independent Commission on Wimbledon F.C.'s wish to relocate to Milton Keynes
  | first1 = Raj
  | last1 = Parker
  | first2 = Steve
  | last2 = Stride
  | author2-link=Steve Stride
  | first3 = Alan
  | last3 = Turvey
  | url = http://www.wisa.org.uk/cgi/l/files/20020530_fa.pdf
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041119013644/http://www.wisa.org.uk/cgi/l/files/20020530_fa.pdf
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 19 November 2004
  | publisher = [[The Football Association]]
  | date = 28 May 2002
  | access-date = 5 June 2009
  | pages=1, 9–34}}</ref>

Having campaigned against the move,<ref name=oppositiontomove>{{cite book
  | title = Report of the Independent Commission on Wimbledon F.C.'s wish to relocate to Milton Keynes
  | first1 = Raj
  | last1 = Parker
  | first2 = Steve
  | last2 = Stride
  | author2-link=Steve Stride
  | first3 = Alan
  | last3 = Turvey
  | url = http://www.wisa.org.uk/cgi/l/files/20020530_fa.pdf
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041119013644/http://www.wisa.org.uk/cgi/l/files/20020530_fa.pdf
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 19 November 2004
  | publisher = [[The Football Association]]
  | date = 28 May 2002
  | access-date = 5 June 2009
  | pages=17–18, 61–67
  | quote=The proposal has met with considerable opposition, and not just from the WFC fans.&nbsp;... [M]ost of the hundreds (over 600) of communications we have received have argued against the proposal. They have generally been from individual WFC fans. 57. Supporters' associations and individual fans from many other clubs and people from as far afield as the United States, Australia (Wimbledon Supporters Downunder), Russia and Norway have also expressed similar views.&nbsp;... The fans are not of the opinion that a club in Milton Keynes is better than no club at all.}}; {{cite news
| title = Dons get Milton Keynes green light
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/2012312.stm
| website = BBC Sport
| date = 28 May 2002
| access-date = 31 August 2009}}</ref> a group of disaffected Wimbledon fans reacted to this in June 2002 by forming their own non-league club, [[AFC Wimbledon]], to which most of the original team's support defected.<ref name=Pitchbattle>{{cite news
| title = Pitch battle
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jan/11/clubsincrisis.sport
| location=London
| work = [[The Guardian]]
| publisher = Guardian News and Media
| first = Jim
| last = White
| date = 11 January 2003
| access-date = 5 June 2009
| quote = Ten miles from Selhurst Park, in Kingston upon Thames, the following Saturday, the streets around the tidy little Kingsmeadow football ground are filling up an hour before kick-off. It is here that Wimbledon fans, fed up with the direction in which the owners were leading the object of their love, have set up a football club of their own.&nbsp;...  Early in 2001, Wimbledon's owners announced that they intended to move the club to the Buckinghamshire new town. The fans were adamant that it should remain in their community. 'They wanted to steal our club,' says Kevin Rye, of the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association (Wisa). 'Nick it and move it 70 miles north. That's what it is: nothing short of theft.'}}</ref> AFC Wimbledon entered a groundshare agreement with [[Kingstonian F.C.|Kingstonian]] in the borough of [[Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames|Kingston upon Thames]], adjacent to Merton.<ref name=Pitchbattle/> The original Wimbledon intended to move to Milton Keynes immediately but were unable to do so until a temporary home in the town meeting Football League criteria could be found.<ref name=couldmoveduringseason>{{cite news
| title = Dons could move during season
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/sport/2002/07/04/wimbledon_stay.shtml
| location=London
| publisher = BBC
| date = 5 July 2002
| access-date = 30 November 2014
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041119074619/http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/sport/2002/07/04/wimbledon_stay.shtml
|archive-date=19 November 2004
|url-status=dead}}</ref> The club remained at Selhurst Park in the meantime and in June 2003 went into [[administration (British football)|administration]].<ref>{{cite news
| title = Wimbledon go into administration
| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2405494/Wimbledon-go-into-administration.html
| work = [[The Daily Telegraph]]
| location=London
| date = 6 June 2003
| access-date = 5 June 2009}}</ref> With the move threatened and the club facing liquidation,<ref>{{cite news
| title = Confusion mounts over Don's home ground
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/sport/2003/07/03/wimbledon_selhurst.shtml
| location=London
| publisher = BBC
| date = 3 July 2003
| access-date = 30 November 2014
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311221625/http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/sport/2003/07/03/wimbledon_selhurst.shtml
|archive-date=11 March 2005
|url-status=dead}}</ref> Winkelman decided to buy it himself.<ref name=conn2012/> He secured funding for the administrators to keep the team operating with the goal of getting it to Milton Keynes as soon as possible.<ref name=stillbackdons>{{cite news
| title = Winkelman will still back Dons
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/sport/2003/07/15/wimbledon_winkleman_back.shtml
| location=London
| publisher = BBC
| date = 15 July 2003
| access-date = 30 November 2014
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311222459/http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/sport/2003/07/15/wimbledon_winkleman_back.shtml
|archive-date=11 March 2005
|url-status=dead}}</ref> The club arranged the temporary use of the [[National Hockey Stadium (Milton Keynes)|National Hockey Stadium]] in Milton Keynes and played its first match there in September 2003.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Wimbledon 2–2 Burnley
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3113684.stm
| location=London
| website = BBC Sport
| date = 26 September 2003
| access-date = 17 November 2014}}; {{cite news
| title = It's mooing not booing
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/sport/2003/09/27/wimbledon_match_day.shtml
| location=London
| publisher = BBC
| date = 27 September 2003
| access-date = 1 December 2014
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311221731/http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/sport/2003/09/27/wimbledon_match_day.shtml
|archive-date=11 March 2005
|url-status=dead}}</ref> Nine months later Winkelman's Inter MK Group bought the club out of administration and announced changes to its name, badge and colours—the team was renamed Milton Keynes Dons Football Club.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Wimbledon to change name
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/3825865.stm
| website = BBC Sport
| date = 21 June 2004
| access-date = 5 June 2009}}; {{cite news
| title = Wimbledon become MK Dons FC
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/jun/21/newsstory.mkdons
| work = [[The Guardian]]
| publisher = Guardian News and Media
| location=London
| date = 21 June 2004
| access-date = 4 June 2009}}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|List of Milton Keynes Dons F.C. seasons}}

===2004–2006: Struggles and relegation===
[[File:Milton Keynes Dons at the National Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes - geograph.org.uk - 1721709.jpg|thumb|Milton Keynes Dons (white) take on [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] (tangerine) at the [[former England National Hockey Stadium]] during the [[2004–05 in English football|2004–05]] season]]
The first season for the club as Milton Keynes Dons was [[2004–05 in English football|2004–05]], in [[Football League One]], under [[Stuart Murdoch (football manager)|Stuart Murdoch]], who had managed Wimbledon F.C. since 2002. The team's first game was on 7 August 2004, a 1–1 home draw against [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]], with [[Izale McLeod]] equalising with their first competitive goal.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mitchell|first=Kevin|title=McLeod gives Dons sense of identity|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/aug/08/match.sport4|access-date=30 January 2016|work=The Guardian|date=8 August 2004}}</ref>  Murdoch was sacked in November<ref>{{cite news|title=Murdoch axed by Dons|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2004/11/08/stuart_murdoch_081104_feature.shtml|access-date=30 January 2016|publisher=BBC Three Counties|date=10 November 2004}}</ref> and replaced by [[Danny Wilson (footballer, born 1960)|Danny Wilson]], who kept Milton Keynes Dons in the division on the final day of the season&nbsp;— largely due to [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham's]] 10-point deduction for going into [[Administration (law)|administration]]. [[2005–06 in English football|The following season]], Milton Keynes Dons struggled all year, and were relegated to [[Football League Two|League Two]]; Wilson, as a result, was sacked.<ref>{{cite news|title=MK Dons part company with Wilson|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2006/05/11/danny_wilson_110506_feature.shtml|access-date=30 January 2016|publisher=BBC Three Counties|date=11 May 2006}}</ref>

===2006–2010: Promotion and first silverware===
Wilson's successor for [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07]] was [[Martin Allen]], who had just taken [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] to the brink of a place in the [[Football League Championship]]. Milton Keynes Dons were in contention for automatic promotion right up to the last game of the season, but eventually finished fourth and had to settle for a play-off place. They then suffered a defeat to [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] in the play-off semi-finals. During the 2007 summer break, Allen left to take over at [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]].

For the [[2007–08 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2007–08]] season, former [[England national football team|England]] [[captain (association football)|captain]] [[Paul Ince]] took over as manager. Milton Keynes Dons reached [[2008 Football League Trophy Final|the final]] of the [[Football League Trophy]], while topping the table for most of the season. The final was played on 30 March 2008 against [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]]&nbsp;— Milton Keynes Dons won 2–0 at [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]] to bring the first professional trophy to Milton Keynes. The club capped the trophy win with the League Two championship, and the subsequent promotion to [[Football League One|League One]]. Following his successes, Ince left at the end of the season to manage [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]].

Ince's replacement was former [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] player [[Roberto Di Matteo]], taking his first role as a manager. In the [[2008–09 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2008–09]] season, they missed out on an automatic promotion spot by two points, finishing third behind [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] and [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]. They were knocked out of the play-offs by [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]], who defeated MK Dons by [[Penalty shootout (association football)|penalty shootout]] at Stadium MK. Di Matteo left at the season's end for [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]].<ref name="dimatteoleaves">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/8126800.stm  |title=Baggies confirm Di Matteo as boss |date=30 June 2009 |access-date=11 September 2013 |publisher=BBC |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> A year after leaving, Ince returned as manager for the [[2009–10 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2009–10]] season.<ref name="inceback">{{cite news
| url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/milton_keynes_dons/8133652.stm
| title= Ince reappointed as MK Dons boss
| website= BBC Sport
| date= 3 July 2009
| access-date= 3 July 2009}}</ref> He resigned from the club on 16 April 2010, but remained manager until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Bob |date=16 April 2010 |title=Paul Ince announces that he will leave MK Dons at the end of the season |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/leagueone/mkdons/7599061/Paul-Ince-announces-that-he-will-leave-MK-Dons-at-the-end-of-the-season.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419143232/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/leagueone/mkdons/7599061/Paul-Ince-announces-that-he-will-leave-MK-Dons-at-the-end-of-the-season.html |archive-date=19 April 2010 |work=Telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>

===2010–2016: Karl Robinson era===
On 10 May 2010, [[Karl Robinson]] was appointed as the club's new manager, with former [[England national football team|England]] coach [[John Gorman (footballer)|John Gorman]] as his assistant. At 29 years of age, Robinson was at the time of his appointment the youngest manager in the [[Football League]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/milton_keynes_dons/8672544.stm |title=Dons spring surprise by appointing Robinson as new boss |website=BBC Sport|date= 10 May 2010|access-date=10 May 2010}}</ref> In his first season in the club Milton Keynes Dons finished fifth in [[2010–11 Football League One|2010–11 League One]]. They faced [[Peterborough United]] in the play-off semifinals. Although they won the first leg 2–1, a 2–0 defeat at London Road meant they missed out on the play-off final, losing the Semi-Final 3–2 on aggregate goals.

The 2011–12 season brought similar results to the previous season with the Dons finishing fifth in [[2011–12 Football League One|2011–12 League One]] facing [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield]] in the play-offs. Losing the first leg 2–0 followed by winning 2–1 at [[Kirklees Stadium|The Galpharm]] saw Milton Keynes Dons lose 3–2 on aggregate against the eventual play-off winners. The away leg was John Gorman's last match in football after announcing his retirement a few weeks beforehand. Gorman's replacement was announced on 18 May 2012 as being ex-Luton manager [[Mick Harford]] along with new part-time coach [[Ian Wright]].

[[File:Milton Keynes Dons FC League Performance.svg|thumb|left|Chart showing the progress of MK Dons' league finishes since the 2004–05 season]]

Milton Keynes Dons experienced their best ever FA Cup campaign in the [[2012–13 FA Cup|2012–13 season]] by beating a spirited [[Cambridge City F.C.|Cambridge City]] (0–0 and 6–1), League Two fierce rivals [[AFC Wimbledon]] (2–1), Championship [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] (0–0 and 2–0) and Premier League [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] (4–2) to reach the fifth round of the competition for the first time in their history. Their record-breaking run ended in the fifth round at Stadium MK on 16 February 2013, losing 3–1 to Championship side [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]]. After being in the top five for most of the season, the club finished the [[2013–14 Football League One|2013–14 League One]] season in tenth place.

The 2014–15 season began well. The highlight event of the season's first month was being drawn against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] in the League Cup second round, having dispatched AFC Wimbledon in the first. The Dons recorded a shock 4–0 victory over Manchester United in front of a sell out crowd at Stadium MK.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|last=Osborne |first=Chris |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28847955 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 4–0 Manchester United |work=BBC Sport |date=26 August 2014}}</ref> A few weeks later, the Dons recorded their record win, a 6–0 thrashing of [[Colchester United]] at home.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30156114|title=Milton Keynes Dons 6–0 Colchester United|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> That record did not last long as it was broken once again with a 7–0 demolition of [[Oldham Athletic]] on 20 December 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mkweb.co.uk/MK-DONS-Match-report-MK-Dons-7-0-Oldham/story-25744866-detail/story.html|title=MATCH REPORT: MK Dons 7–0 Oldham – Christmas comes early at stadiummk|work=OneMK|access-date=20 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220195955/http://www.mkweb.co.uk/MK-DONS-Match-report-MK-Dons-7-0-Oldham/story-25744866-detail/story.html|archive-date=20 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Just over a month later, on 31 January 2015, the Dons recorded a joint record 5–0 away win against [[Crewe Alexandra]], earning a short-lived top spot.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30963191|title=Crewe Alexandra 0–5 Milton Keynes Dons|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 3 May the club secured promotion to the Football League Championship for the first time, beating [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]] 5–1 and leapfrogging [[Preston North End]] (who lost 1–0 at [[Colchester United]]) on the final day of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32471126|title=Milton Keynes Dons 5–1 Yeovil Town|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

The Dons started life in the Championship by beating [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] away 4–1 on the opening day of the season and gaining seven points from a possible 12 in their first four games. They were not able to sustain this form throughout the season – the Dons did not win any of their final 11 games and they returned to League One after finishing 23rd in the Championship.<ref>{{cite news|title=Milton Keynes Dons 1–4 Brentford|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36060635|access-date=24 April 2016|work=BBC Sport|date=23 April 2016}}</ref>

On 23 October 2016, Karl Robinson left the club by mutual consent, following a 3–0 home defeat by [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]] the previous day, which had extended the Dons' winless run to four games and left them 19th in the League One table.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37745985|title=Karl Robinson: MK boss leaves club 'by mutual consent' after six years in charge|work=BBC Sport|date=23 October 2016|access-date=23 October 2016}}</ref>

===2016–2018: Slow decline===
[[Robbie Neilson]] joined MK Dons as manager from [[Scottish Premiership]] club [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]] in his native [[Scotland]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38189935 |title=Robbie Neilson: Hearts head coach completes MK Dons move |work=BBC Sport|date=2 December 2016 |access-date=15 November 2018 }}</ref> with his first official game in charge coincidentally an [[FA Cup]] tie against Karl Robinson's new club [[Charlton Athletic]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38217637 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 3–1 Charlton Athletic (aet) |work=BBC Sport |date=13 December 2016 |access-date=15 November 2018 }}</ref> Neilson's reign started off well, with his second game in charge a win over AFC Wimbledon,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38192505 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 1–0 AFC Wimbledon |work=BBC Sport |date=10 December 2016 |access-date=15 November 2018 }}</ref> and in late January 2017 a [[local derby]] win against [[Northampton Town]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38619530 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 5–3 Northampton Town |work=BBC Sport |date=21 January 2017 |access-date=15 November 2018 }}</ref>

The [[2017–18 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|following season]] started badly; however, on 30 December 2017 the team was noted<ref>{{cite news|last=Pilnick |first=Brent |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42524993 |title=EFL: Tony Pulis has a tough start while nine-man MK Dons hang on for a win |work=BBC Sport |date=30 December 2017}}</ref> for a remarkable 1–0 derby win against [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough]], playing with 9 men for 68 minutes after controversial refereeing decisions<ref>FOOTBALL ON 5: GOAL RUSH, Saturday 30 December, Season 2017/18 Episode 21</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons/farcical-refereeing-doesn-t-dampen-dons-spirit-neilson-1-8310520 |title=Farcical refereeing doesn't dampen Dons' spirit – Neilson |work=Milton Keynes Citizen |date=30 December 2017}}</ref> and 13 minutes of added time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42463269 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 1–0 Peterborough United |work=BBC Sport |date=30 December 2017}}</ref> Neilson left by mutual consent on 20 January 2018 after a run of one win in eleven league games with the club 21st in the table;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42763390 |title=Robbie Neilson: Milton Keynes Dons manager leaves club by 'mutual consent' |work=BBC Sport |date=20 January 2018 |access-date=15 November 2018 }}</ref> he was sacked the same day as his last game, a disappointing away 2–1 derby defeat against relegation rivals [[Northampton Town]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons/sacked-robbie-neilson-leaves-mk-dons-1-8340276 |title=SACKED: Robbie Neilson leaves MK Dons |work=Milton Keynes Citizen |date=20 January 2018}}</ref>

Under Neilson's successor, [[Dan Micciche]], the club continued to struggle in the relegation places. Following a run of poor results with only three wins in sixteen matches in charge, Micciche left the club on 22 April 2018, with assistant manager [[Keith Millen]] taking over as a caretaker.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43856639 |title=Dan Micciche: MK Dons part company with manager |work=BBC Sport |date=22 April 2018 |access-date=15 November 2018 }}</ref> On the penultimate weekend of the season another defeat relegated them to League Two (leaving them seven points from safety with one game to play).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43402150 |title=Premier League and Football League: Ups & downs and European qualification |work=BBC Sport |date=28 May 2018 |access-date=15 November 2018 }}</ref>

===2018–2023: Bounce-back and search for stability===
Former [[Exeter City]] manager [[Paul Tisdale]] was appointed in June 2018 after 12 years at his previous club.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44355797 |title=Paul Tisdale: MK Dons appoint former Exeter City boss as new manager |work=BBC Sport |date=6 June 2018 |access-date=15 November 2018 }}</ref> After a season where the Dons were tipped to be favourites for promotion, the club spent most of the season around the automatic promotion and play-off places. Going top after a 2–0 win over [[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]] in November,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mk-dons-go-top-of-league-two-ztxgn8dqm|title=MK Dons go top of League Two|first=John |last=Aizlewood|date=18 November 2018|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}</ref> the club sunk to 8th in February<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47099124 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 2–3 Swindon Town |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=9 February 2019 |access-date=27 February 2022}}</ref> before being one win way away from automatic promotion against play-off hopefuls [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]] in the penultimate game. The Dons lost 2–0<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47994668 |title=Colchester United 2–0 Milton Keynes Dons |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=27 April 2019 |access-date=27 February 2022}}</ref> which led to a "winner takes all" game against 3rd placed [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]], who were separated by goal difference, to determine who was promoted.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48132790|title=League Two final day: MK Dons and Mansfield battle for last promotion place|work=BBC Sport|date=3 May 2019}}</ref> MK Dons won 1–0 in front of nearly 21,000 fans meaning they returned to [[EFL League One|League One]] at the first attempt.<ref name="bbc.co.uk1">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48074882 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 1–0 Mansfield Town: David Wheeler goal seals promotion for Dons  |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=4 May 2019 |access-date=27 February 2022}}</ref>

Following a poor start to the [[2019–20 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2019–20 season]] in which the Dons achieved only one point from a possible 27, the worst run of results in the club's history, Tisdale's contract with the club was mutually terminated on 2 November 2019 following a 1–3 home defeat to fellow relegation-threatened [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50277858 |title=Paul Tisdale: MK Dons part company with manager after third successive loss |work=BBC Sport |date=2 November 2019 |access-date=2 November 2019 }}</ref> The next day, [[Russell Martin (footballer)|Russell Martin]] was announced as the new permanent first-team manager; he had joined as a player earlier in the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2019/november/martin-appointed-mk-dons-manager |title=Russell Martin appointed MK Dons First-Team Manager |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=3 November 2019 |access-date=3 November 2019 }}</ref>
Fixtures were suspended on 13 March 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51867989 |title=Coronavirus: Premier League and EFL suspended in England – Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland halt games |work=BBC Sport |date=13 March 2020 |access-date=9 June 2020 }}</ref> and the clubs later voted to end the season prematurely with immediate effect on 9 June 2020, with the final table decided upon by an unweighted points-per-game system resulting in the club finishing the season in 19th place,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52705124 |title=League One & League Two clubs vote to end seasons early |work=BBC Sport |date=9 June 2020 |access-date=9 June 2020 }}</ref> thus avoiding relegation.

The ''Dons'' went into the final weekend of the [[2021–22 EFL League One|2021–22 League One]] season with a chance of gaining automatic promotion to the Championship, and even had a slim chance of becoming Champions if they won by a big score and other results went their way. They comfortably beat [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]] 5–0,<ref>{{cite news | first=Brent|last=Pilnick |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61198304 |title=Plymouth Argyle 0–5 Milton Keynes Dons |website=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2022 |access-date=21 January 2023}}</ref> but both [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] and Rotherham United won their games against Shrewsbury Town and [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]], respectively, to claim the two automatic promotion berths.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61198355 |title=Shrewsbury Town 0–3 Wigan Athletic |work=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2022 |access-date=21 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61198302 |title=Gillingham 0–2 Rotherham United |website=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2022 |access-date=21 January 2023}}</ref> The ''Dons'' finished third<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/league-one/2021-2022/standings.shtml|title=League One Table 2021/2022|publisher=Eurosport|access-date=21 January 2023}}</ref> and faced Buckinghamshire rivals Wycombe Wanderers in the [[2022 English Football League play-offs#League One|play-offs.]] Despite the ''Dons'' having [[home advantage]] in the second leg of their semi-final, Wycombe won 2–1 on aggregate to reach the final at Wembley.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61288379 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 1–0 Wycombe Wanderers |work=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2022 |access-date=21 January 2023}}</ref>

MK Dons suffered relegation to League Two in the [[2022–23 EFL League One|2022–23 League One]] season. [[Liam Manning]] was replaced as manager in December 2022,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2022/december/statement-liam-manning/|title=Statement: Liam Manning|website=www.mkdons.com|date=11 December 2022|access-date=11 December 2022}}</ref> but successor [[Mark Jackson (footballer, born 1977)|Mark Jackson]] registered just six wins in 25 games and was sacked after the side were relegated following a final day 0–0 draw at [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]].<ref name="BBC-09May2023">{{cite news |title=Mark Jackson: MK Dons sack head coach after relegation to League Two |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65532665 |access-date=9 May 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 May 2023}}</ref>

===2023–present: Return to League Two===

On 27 May 2023, MK Dons appointed [[Graham Alexander]] as their new head coach.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65733491 |title=Graham Alexander: MK Dons appoint ex-Motherwell boss as new head coach |work=BBC Sport |date=27 May 2023 |access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref> After an eight-match winless run, Alexander was sacked with MK Dons in 16th place.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67121048 |title=Graham Alexander: MK Dons sack head coach after just 16 games in charge |work=BBC Sport |date=16 October 2023 |access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref> On 17 October 2023, MK Dons announced that they had appointed [[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]] manager [[Mike Williamson (footballer)|Mike Williamson]] as their new head coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2023/october/mike-williamson-appointed-mk-dons-head-coach/ |title=Mike Williamson appointed MK Dons Head Coach |website=MK Dons FC |date= 17 October 2023 |access-date=17 October 2023 }}</ref> He led MK Dons to a 4th-placed finish, where they faced [[Crawley Town F.C.|Crawley Town]] in the play-off semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68862486#:~:text=Milton%20Keynes%20Dons%204%2D4,Two%20after%20draw%20%2D%20BBC%20Sport |title=Milton Keynes Dons 4 Sutton United 4 |work=BBC Sport |date=27 April 2024 |access-date=7 May 2024}}</ref> Crawley won 8–1 on aggregate, inflicting the largest play-off defeat in EFL history on the club.<ref name="BBC-11 May 2024"/> This was the sixth time MK Dons had competed in the play-offs without reaching a final.<ref name="BBC-11 May 2024">{{cite news |title=Milton Keynes Dons Milton Keynes Dons 1–5 Crawley Town |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cv27dwnrzent |access-date=13 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2024}}</ref>

On 9 August 2024, the owner, Pete Winkelman, sold the club to a Kuwait-based consortium, with Fahad Al Ghamin becoming the club's new chairman, representing the first change in ownership since the club's inception.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c1k3n8ggvgmo |title=MK Dons sold to Kuwait-based consortium |work=BBC Sport |date=9 August 2024 |access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref> After four losses in the opening six games, including a 3-0 defeat to arch-rivals [[AFC Wimbledon]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c36ngkwdk2jt |title=Callum Maycock’s double helped AFC Wimbledon record their third league win in a row with a 3-0 triumph over bitter rivals MK Dons. |work=BBC Sport |date=14 September 2024 |access-date=13 October 2024}}</ref> Mike Williamson was appointed as the manager of [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]] on 19 September, with the Cumbrians meeting the release clause in his contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvgl09z0e32o |title=Carlisle bring in boss Williamson from MK Dons |work=BBC Sport |date=19 September 2024 |access-date=13 October 2024}}</ref> MK Dons appointed Williamson's replacement, the [[Crawley Town F.C.|Crawley Town]] boss [[Scott Lindsey]], on 25 September 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c1jdx1k8098o |title=MK Dons appoint Crawley boss Lindsey as head coach |work=BBC Sport |date=25 September 2024 |access-date=13 October 2024}}</ref>

==Kit history==
:''Only seasons played by Milton Keynes Dons under that name are given here. For a kit history of [[Wimbledon F.C.]], see [[Wimbledon F.C.#Kit history]].''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Season !!Kit manufacturer!!Main sponsor!!Back of shirt
|-
| 2004–2005 || rowspan=2|A-line || rowspan=5|[[Marshall Amplification]] || bgcolor = "lightgrey" rowspan="18|
|-
| 2005–2006 
|-
| 2006–2007 || Surridge Sports 
|-
| 2007–2008 || rowspan=3|[[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] 
|-
| 2008–2009
|-
| 2009–2010 || rowspan=3|[[DoubleTree|DoubleTree by Hilton]]
|-
| 2010–2011 || rowspan=2|[[International Sports Clothing|ISC]]
|-
| 2011–2012
|-
| 2012–2013 || Vandanel || rowspan="2" |Case Security
|-
| 2013–2014 || rowspan=2|[[Sondico]]
|-
| 2014–2015 || rowspan=11|[[Suzuki|Suzuki GB]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2018/september/mk-dons-and-suzuki-gb-keep-the-ball-rolling-for-three-more-years/ |title=MK Dons and Suzuki GB keep the ball rolling for three more years |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=7 September 2018 |access-date=7 September 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2023/july/mk-dons-stay-on-the-ball-with-suzuki/ |title=MK Dons stay On The Ball with Suzuki |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=29 July 2023 |access-date=29 July 2023 }}</ref>
|-
| 2015–2016 || rowspan=7|[[Erreà]]
|-
| 2016–2017
|-
| 2017–2018
|-
| 2018–2019
|-
| 2019–2020
|-
| 2020–2021 
|-
| 2021–2022
|-
| 2022–2023 || rowspan="3"|[[Castore (brand)|Castore]]<ref name="Castore">{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2022/june/mk-dons-partner-with-castore/ |title=MK Dons partner with Castore |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=7 June 2022 |access-date=7 June 2022 }}</ref> || rowspan="3" align="center"|eEnergy <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2022/august/eenergy-expand-partnership-to-become-first-back-of-shirt-sponsors/ |title=eEnergy expand partnership to become first back-of-shirt sponsors |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=4 August 2022 |access-date=4 August 2022 }}</ref>
|-
| 2023–2024 
|-
| 2024–2025 
|}
Source: [http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Milton_Keynes_Dons/Milton_Keynes_Dons.htm Historical Football Kits]

==Stadium==
[[File:Denbigh stadium east stand 16 May 07.JPG|thumb|[[Stadium MK]]'s East Stand in 2007]]
{{Main|National Hockey Stadium (Milton Keynes)|Stadium MK}}

The club's first stadium was the [[National Hockey Stadium (Milton Keynes)|National Hockey Stadium]], which was temporarily converted for football for the duration of the club's stay. Their lease on the venue ended in May 2007.

On 18 July 2007, the club's new 30,500 capacity stadium, [[Stadium MK]] in [[Denbigh, Milton Keynes|Denbigh]] hosted its first game, a restricted-entrance event against a young [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] XI.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/6906212.stm |title=Dons open stadium against Chelsea |work=BBC Sport |date=19 July 2007 |access-date=12 November 2018 }}</ref> The stadium was officially opened on 29 November 2007 by [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2007/11/30/queen_mk_2007_feature.shtml |title=The Queen visits Milton Keynes |work=BBC Sport |date=30 November 2007 |access-date=12 November 2018 }}</ref> The stadium features an open concourse at the top of the lower tier, an integrated hotel with rooms looking over the pitch and conference facilities. The complex was to include a 3,000 capacity indoor arena, where the [[London Lions (basketball)|MK Lions]] basketball team would be based, but completion of this arena was delayed due to deferral of proposed commercial developments around the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/winkelman-can-t-guarantee-arena-1-867600 |title=Winkelman can't guarantee arena! |publisher=[[Milton Keynes Citizen]] |date=26 November 2008 |access-date=12 November 2018 }}</ref>

In May 2009, the stadium was named as one of 15 stadia put forward as potential hosts for the [[England 2018 FIFA World Cup bid]], which would include increasing capacity to 44,000,<ref>{{cite news |last=Eason |first=Kevin |date=17 December 2009 |title=Milton Keynes in dreamland after being selected for World Cup bid |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/milton-keynes-in-dreamland-after-being-selected-for-world-cup-bid-wj0726s37gj |access-date=23 March 2023 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> however England's bid was later unsuccessful. In recent years Stadium MK has played host to the [[2014 FA Women's Cup final]], three [[Rugby World Cup 2015]] fixtures<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24287468 |title=MK Dons: A decade of football in Milton Keynes |work=BBC Sport |date=27 December 2013 |access-date=12 November 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gibson |first=Owen |date=2 May 2013 |title=World Cup 2015 will use only two traditional club rugby grounds |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2013/may/02/rugby-world-cup-england-twickenham |access-date=12 November 2018}}</ref> and four matches (including a semi-final) of the [[UEFA Women's Euro 2022]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thefa.com/competitions/uefa-womens-euro-2022/venues |title=Venues – UEFA Women's EURO 2022 |publisher=[[The Football Association]] |access-date=8 June 2022 }}</ref>

==Supporters==

===Initial supporters' club recognition===
<!-- Advice to editors: this article can only record verifiable facts. Please use the Discussion page for any comments, remarks, personal views, speculation on what might happen next. The article may only reflect what is formally recorded in the official minutes of the FSA. Material about the principle of relocation belongs in the Relocation article, not this one.-->
On 4 June 2005, at the 2005 [[Football Supporters' Federation]] "Fans' Parliament" (AGM), the FSF refused the Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association (MKDSA) membership of the FSF in a debate that, among other arguments, questioned why the Football League had yet to introduce any new rules to prevent the [[relocation of professional sports teams|"franchising"]] of other football clubs in the future.<ref>FSF Annual Report for 2005 Motion 1 on pages 6</ref><ref>FSF Annual Report for 2006 minutes pages 44/45</ref> In addition, the FSF membership agreed with the Wimbledon Independent Supporters' Association (WISA) that the MKDSA should not be entitled to join the FSF until they give up all claim to the history and honours of Wimbledon FC. With this in mind, the FSF began discussions aimed at returning Wimbledon FC's honours to the [[London Borough of Merton]].

Shortly afterwards, following heavy criticism for allowing the move, the Football League announced new tighter rules on club relocation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10794~673609,00.html |title=Rule changes from League's AGM |access-date=16 September 2008 |publisher=The Football League |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218081255/http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10794~673609,00.html |archive-date=18 February 2007 }}</ref> At its AGM on 5 June 2006, the FSF again considered a motion<ref>FSF Annual Report for 2006 Motion 6 (pages 6)</ref> proposed by the FSF Council to allow Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association membership if the honours and trophies of Wimbledon FC were given to the [[London Borough of Merton]]. In October 2006, agreement<ref>[http://www.mkdsa.co.uk/documents/archive/2006The_Accord.pdf Accord on patrimony of Wimbledon FC] MKDSA website.</ref> was reached between the club, the Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association, the Wimbledon Independent Supporters' Association and the Football Supporters Federation. The FA Cup trophy plus all club patrimony gathered under the name of Wimbledon Football Club would be returned to the London Borough of Merton. Ownership of trademarks and website [[domain name]]s related to Wimbledon would also be transferred to the borough. As part of the same agreement it was agreed that any reference made to Milton Keynes Dons should refer only to events subsequent to 7 August 2004 (the date of the first league game of Milton Keynes Dons).

As a result of this deal, the FSF announced that the supporters of Milton Keynes Dons would be permitted to become members of the federation, and that it would no longer appeal to the supporters of other clubs to boycott Milton Keynes Dons' matches.<ref>FSF press release "MK Dons agree to return Wimbledon trophies to Merton&nbsp;– and sanction amendments to football statistics"</ref> On 2 August 2007, Milton Keynes Dons transferred ownership of all Wimbledon Football Club trophies and memorabilia to the London Borough of Merton.<ref name="MertonTroph">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/6927439.stm|title=Football – My Club – Milton Keynes – Merton given back Dons trophies|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

===Rivalries===
'''AFC Wimbledon'''

{{Main|AFC Wimbledon–Milton Keynes Dons F.C. rivalry}}
Due to their shared ancestry in [[Wimbledon F.C.]], there is an unavoidably acrimonious rivalry with [[AFC Wimbledon]]<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38252537 MK Dons v AFC Wimbledon: What is the feeling among fans?]{{snd}} ''BBC Sport'', 9 December 2016</ref> since the [[relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes]];<ref name=failed>"[https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/afc-wimbledon-face-football-league-11224525 AFC Wimbledon face Football League probe after refusing to recognise bitter rivals MK Dons]", ''[[The Daily Mirror]]'', 23 September 2017</ref>

The first fixture between the two clubs took place on 2 December 2012 in the second round of the [[2012–13 FA Cup]], where they were drawn to play each other at Stadium MK. Milton Keynes Dons won the match 2–1, with a winner scored in [[injury time]] by [[Jon Otsemobor]] and later dubbed by MK Dons fans as "The Heel of God" (a reference to [[Diego Maradona's Hand of God|Maradona's "Hand of God"]]).<ref name=firstgame>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20483967|title=MK Dons 2–1 AFC Wimbledon |date=2 December 2012 |access-date=3 December 2012 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> [[Kyle McFadzean]]'s opening goal for MK Dons in the second match between the two clubs, a 3–1 Milton Keynes win in the [[2014–15 Football League Cup|first round]] of the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] in August 2014,<ref name=mk3afc12014>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28652624|title=MK Dons 3–1 AFC Wimbledon |first=Chris|last=Osbourne|date=13 August 2014 |access-date=13 November 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> was also scored with his heel, and was consequently labelled "Heel of God II".<ref name=heelofgod>{{cite news
|url=http://www.mkweb.co.uk/Football-Heel-God-helps-MK-Dons-beat-AFC/story-22704859-detail/story.html
|title=Football: Heel of God Two helps MK Dons beat AFC Wimbledon in grudge match
|first=Scott
|last=Kirk
|work=MKWeb
|location = Cambridge
|publisher = Iliffe News and Media Limited
|date=12 August 2014
|access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref> Two months later, in the [[Football League Trophy]] Southern section second round, AFC Wimbledon defeated MK Dons 3–2 with a winning goal by [[Adebayo Akinfenwa]].<ref name=mk2afc32014>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29421232|title=MK Dons 2–3 AFC Wimbledon |date=7 October 2014 |access-date=13 November 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

On 10 December 2016, the sides met for the first time in a competitive league fixture following MK Dons' relegation from the [[Football League Championship|Championship]] and AFC Wimbledon's promotion from [[Football League Two|League Two]] the previous season. Milton Keynes Dons won 1–0, with [[Dean Bowditch]] scoring the only goal of the game with a 63rd-minute penalty.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38192505 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 1–0 AFC Wimbledon |work=BBC Sport |date=10 December 2016 |access-date=10 December 2016}}</ref> The first visit of MK Dons to AFC Wimbledon's home ground for a League One match on 14 March 2017 resulted in a 2–0 victory for AFC Wimbledon. The 2018–19 season saw AFC Wimbledon remain in League One, in a higher league than MK Dons for the first time.<ref>{{cite news |last=Burnton |first=Simon |date=4 May 2018 |title=AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons head in different directions once more |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/04/afc-wimbledon-mk-dons-league-one-different-directions |access-date=28 October 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In 2017, AFC Wimbledon, in the [[Football programme|club's programme]] for their home game against the Dons, played on 22 September, failed to recognise their opponents by their full name for the second successive season. AFC Wimbledon's official [[Twitter]] feed also referred to their opponents as "Milton Keynes" throughout their match coverage. AFC Wimbledon were subsequently threatened by the EFL with disciplinary action,<ref name=failed/> and eventually charged with breaching EFL regulations.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 January 2018 |title=AFC Wimbledon appoint top QC in fight over MK Dons charge |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/video/afc-wimbledon-appoint-top-qc-in-fight-over-mk-dons-charge-a3738796.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228134420/https://www.standard.co.uk/video/afc-wimbledon-appoint-top-qc-in-fight-over-mk-dons-charge-a3738796.html |archive-date=28 February 2021 |access-date=24 March 2023 |website=www.standard.co.uk}}</ref> The charges were dropped.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43800764 |title=AFC Wimbledon: EFL drop charges after club refused to use MK Dons' full name |work=BBC Sport |date=17 April 2018 |access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref> AFC Wimbledon were forced to refer to MK Dons by their full name ahead of the 2019–20 season, after the EFL stepped in to mediate.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://talksport.com/football/efl/571246/afc-wimbledon-mk-dons-efl/ |title=ARCH-RIVALS AFC Wimbledon ordered by EFL to call bitter rivals MK Dons by correct name |work=talkSPORT | first=Josh |last=Fordham |date=10 July 2019 |access-date=27 February 2022}}</ref>

'''Peterborough United'''

MK Dons have a rivalry with [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Milton Keynes Dons 1–0 Peterborough United |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42463269 |access-date=24 March 2023}}</ref> since the two clubs have vied head-to-head for promotion to the [[Football League Championship|Championship]] in recent years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Play-offs rekindle newest rivalry |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/13388697 |access-date=24 March 2023}}</ref> A rivalry also exists between [[MK Lightning]] and [[Peterborough Phantoms]] in [[ice hockey]] that pre-dates the football rivalry.<ref>"[http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2014-11-22/say-it-with-flowers-floral-face-off-for-local-ice-hockey-rivals Say it with flowers: Floral face-off for local ice hockey rivals]", ITV News, 22 November 2014</ref>

'''Northampton Town'''

[[Northampton]] is geographically the closest urban area to Milton Keynes with a professional football team, [[Northampton Town]], the two places separated by a little over {{convert|20|mi}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Northampton+Town+FC,+Northampton/Milton+Keynes+Dons,+Grafton+St,+Bletchley,+Milton+Keynes+MK1+1ST/@52.124318,-0.983157,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x48770e521f188d13:0x738529caf0d6a082!2m2!1d-0.934257!2d52.235114!1m5!1m1!1s0x487655301e83839d:0xf7d7c911ec69ecb4!2m2!1d-0.7345897!2d52.0098062|title=Northampton Town FC to Stadium MK|website=Northampton Town FC to Stadium MK}}</ref> Former MK Dons Supporters' Association Chairman John Brockwell had stated that the fans were looking forward to hosting Northampton Town, the club that, geographically at least, are their nearest rivals.<ref name=north/> Although Peterborough United have been traditionally Northampton's main rivals, the "[[Northampton Town F.C.|Cobblers]]" spokesman has stated, in 2008, that, "with MK Dons now on the fixture list, it gives [Northampton] supporters the chance to develop another rivalry."<ref name=north>"[https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/northampton-v-milton-keynes-15-miles-away-but-a-world-apart-1-930633 Northampton v Milton Keynes: 15 miles away but a world apart] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925180403/http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/northampton-v-milton-keynes-15-miles-away-but-a-world-apart-1-930633 |date=25 September 2017 }}", ''[[Northampton Chronicle]]'', 14 August 2008</ref>

In January 2016 police arrested a Milton Keynes fan for setting off [[pyrotechnics]] in the away end, and two Northampton fans and three more Milton Keynes fans were ejected from the ground.<ref>{{cite web |last=Andrews |first=Liam |date=10 January 2016 |title=MK Dons fan arrested at Northampton Town for possession of a pyro |url=https://citiblog.co.uk/2016/01/10/mk-dons-fan-arrested-at-northampton-town-for-possession-of-a-pyro/ |website=CitiBlog}}</ref> In 2018, before the 30 January 3pm kick-off in the League One game between the two clubs, Northamptonshire Police arrested seven travelling supporters of the Dons, with one Northampton fan also arrested.<ref name=eight>"[https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/eight-football-related-arrests-during-afternoon-of-mk-dons-visit-to-northampton-town-1-8342892 Eight football related arrests during afternoon of MK Dons visit to Northampton Town]" by James Averill, ''[[MK Citizen]]'', 22 January 2018</ref><ref>"[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38619530 Milton Keynes Dons – Northampton Town 5–3: game report]", ''BBC Sport'', 21 January 2017</ref> Four arrests were for [[public order offence]]s, one for [[criminal damage]], one for [[Pitch invasion#Association football|pitch encroachment]], one for [[Obstruction of justice|obstructing the police]], and one for [[affray]].<ref name=eight/>

'''Wycombe Wanderers'''

[[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] are the only other professional team in [[Buckinghamshire]], so games between the two teams are labelled "the Bucks derby".<ref>{{cite news |last=Green |first=Sam |date=18 December 2006 |title=Card game riles Wycombe |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2352512/Card-game-riles-Wycombe.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2352512/Card-game-riles-Wycombe.html |archive-date=11 January 2020 |access-date=24 March 2023 |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8617908.stm|title=MK Dons 2–3 Wycombe|date=17 April 2010|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

==Community==
Through the work of its charity, Milton Keynes Dons SET (Sport and Educational Trust), the club works locally in the fields of education, social inclusion, participation and football development.<ref name="MKDonsSET">{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdonsset.com/information/about-us |title=MK Dons Sports and Education Trust |publisher=MK Dons SET |access-date=8 June 2022 }}</ref> It works with schools, has 14 disability teams playing in regional or national competitions, works with BME (black and minority ethnic) community groups and runs many activities for women and girls.<ref name="MKDonsSET" />

Milton Keynes Dons' work in the community has been recognised by the award of the [[Football League Awards]] Community Club of the Season for the South East & East in both 2012 and 2022,<ref name="EFLCommunityAward">{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2022/april/mk-dons-receive-efl-community-club-of-the-season-award/ |title=MK Dons receive regional EFL Community club of the Season award |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=22 April 2022 |access-date=8 June 2022 }}</ref> and in the award of an honorary doctorate to chairman Pete Winkelman by the [[Open University]] in June 2013.<ref name="MK Dons chairman receives Honorary Doctorate from The Open University">{{cite web | url=http://www3.open.ac.uk/media/fullstory.aspx?id=25661 | title=MK Dons chairman receives Honorary Doctorate from The Open University | publisher=The Open University | date=6 June 2013 | access-date=18 December 2018 }}</ref> The club have also been awarded Family Excellence status by the [[English Football League|EFL]] every year since the award's inception in 2008, recognising continuing improvement and best practice in family engagement.<ref name="FamilyExcellence">{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2022/may/mk-dons-awarded-family-excellence-status-for-14th-consecutive-season/ |title=MK Dons awarded Family Excellence status for 14th consecutive season |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=17 May 2022 |access-date=8 June 2022 }}</ref>

==Youth academy==
[[File:MK_Dons_Vs_Barnsley_(16176325970,_cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Milton Keynes Dons sold [[Dele Alli]] to [[Tottenham Hotspur]] for £5 million in 2015]]
Striker [[Sam Baldock]] was the first notable academy graduate who, after making 102 appearances, moved on to [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] for a seven-figure sum. He later became captain of [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] and also played for [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]. {{As of|February 2015}}, [[Daniel Powell]], [[Tom Flanagan (footballer)|Tom Flanagan]] and [[George Baldock]], brother of Sam, all played regularly for the MK Dons first team.

On 2 February 2015, Milton Keynes Dons academy graduate and first team midfielder [[Dele Alli]] was sold to [[Premier League]] side [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] for a fee in the region of £5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31105458|title=Dele Alli: Tottenham sign £5m MK Dons midfielder & loan him back|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Alli became the first Milton Keynes Dons academy graduate to make a full England senior team debut, on 9 October 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33543936|title=Euro 2016 qualifiers: England 2–0 Estonia|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

[[Kevin Danso]] is a graduate of the academy<ref>{{cite news|last=Dawkes |first=Phil |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45437421 |title=England: Players getting game time – the biggest threat to future? |work=BBC Sport |date=8 September 2018}}</ref> who went on to play for [[Austria national football team|Austria]] and became the youngest player to make a league appearance in [[FC Augsburg]]'s history, when making his [[Bundesliga]] debut.<ref>{{cite news|last=Langner|first=Wolfgang|title=Kevin Danso ist nach seinem Debüt ein gefragter Mann|url=http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/sport/fc-augsburg/Kevin-Danso-ist-nach-seinem-Debuet-ein-gefragter-Mann-id40780891.html|access-date=24 May 2017|work=Augsburger Allgemeine|date=4 March 2017|language=de}}</ref><ref name="nt">{{cite news|title=Baum über Danso: "Es ist eine Sensation"|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/678817/artikel_baum-ueber-danso_es-ist-eine-sensation.html|access-date=24 May 2017|date=24 May 2017|language=de}}</ref>

Other notable youth graduates who have gone on to play at a higher level include [[George Williams (footballer, born 1995)|George Williams]], [[Brendan Galloway]], [[Scotland national football team|Scotland international]] [[Liam Kelly (footballer, born 1990)|Liam Kelly]] and England youth team international [[Sheyi Ojo]].

On 9 August 2016, in a first-round [[EFL Cup]] match against [[Newport County F.C.|Newport County]], manager [[Karl Robinson]] selected a first-team squad composed of 13 academy graduates and players, giving eight of those players their full debuts for the club including [[Brandon Thomas-Asante]]. The game ended with a 2–3 away win for the club.<ref name="Karl delighted with comeback kids">{{cite web
| title = Karl delighted with comeback kids
| url = http://www.mkdons.com/news/article/2016-17/karl-delighted-with-comeback-kids-karl-robinson-mk-dons-newport-county-mk-dons-mk-dons-academy-3239187.aspx
| publisher = Milton Keynes Dons F.C
| access-date = 11 August 2016}}</ref>

==Players==

===First-team squad===
{{updated|4 October 2024}}<ref name="Milton Keynes Dons FC Player Profiles">{{cite web
| title = First Team
| url = https://www.mkdons.com/teams/first-team/
| publisher = Milton Keynes Dons F.C
| access-date = 15 January 2022
| archive-date = 8 April 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160408070235/http://www.mkdons.com/team/player-profile/daniel-powell/17
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

<!--ONLY FIRST TEAM (ONLY INCLUDE ACADEMY PLAYERS IF FEATURED ON MK DONS OFFICIAL FIRST TEAM PAGE)-->
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=CAN|pos=GK|name=[[Tom McGill]]|other=on loan from [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Joe Pritchard (footballer, born 1996)|Joe Pritchard]]}}
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Dean Lewington]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Jack Tucker]]}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Sam Sherring]]}}
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=[[MJ Williams]]}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Jonathan Leko]]}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Alex Gilbey]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|vice-captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=WAL|pos=FW|name=[[Ellis Harrison]]}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=[[Liam Kelly (footballer, born 1995)|Liam Kelly]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name= [[Stephen Wearne (English footballer)|Stephen Wearne]]}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Nathan Harness]]}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Joe Tomlinson]]}}
{{Fs player|no=15|nat=SCO|pos=GK|name=[[Craig MacGillivray (footballer)|Craig MacGillivray]]}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=FRA|pos=MF|name=[[Aaron Nemane]]}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Luke Offord]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Tommy Leigh (footballer, born 2000)|Tommy Leigh]]}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Joel Anker]]}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Kane Thompson-Sommers]]}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Brooklyn Ilunga]]}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=[[Callum Hendry]]}}<!--Official club page shows Scotland and player has made comments in press-->
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Laurence Maguire]]}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=[[Connor Lemonheigh-Evans]]}}
{{Fs player|no=26|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Nico Lawrence]]|other=on loan from [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]}}
{{Fs player|no=27|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Joe White (midfielder, born 2002)|Joe White]]|other=on loan from [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]}}
{{Fs player|no=28|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Tom Carroll (English footballer)|Tom Carroll]]}}
{{Fs player|no=29|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=[[Scott Hogan]]}}
{{Fs player|no=30|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Matthew Dennis (English footballer)|Matthew Dennis]]}}
{{Fs player|no=31|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Ronnie Sandford}}
{{Fs player|no=34|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Callum Tripp]]}}
{{Fs player|no=36|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Charlie Stirland]]}}
{{Fs player|no=39|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Sonny Finch]]|other=on loan from [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]}}
{{Fs end}}

====Out on loan====
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=[[Darragh Burns]]|other=on loan to [[Shamrock Rovers F.C.|Shamrock Rovers]]}}
{{Fs player|no=25|nat=NIR|pos=DF|name=[[Phoenix Scholtz]]|other=on loan to [[AFC Dunstable]]}}
{{Fs player|no=35|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Charlie Waller (footballer)|Charlie Waller]]|other=on loan to [[Sutton United F.C.|Sutton United]]}}
{{Fs player|no=37|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Albert Wood|other=on loan to [[Potters Bar Town F.C.|Potters Bar Town]]}}
{{Fs player|no=51|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Seb Stacey|other=on loan to Potters Bar Town}}
{{Fs end}}

===Notable players===
{{For|a list of all Milton Keynes Dons players, past or present|Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players}}

[[File:Lewington, Dean.jpg|thumb|[[Dean Lewington]], the present [[captain (association football)|captain]] of MK Dons, has played more matches for the team than any other player. Pictured in 2011, he is, as of July 2023, the only former [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] player left in the club's squad.]]
[[Mark Wright (footballer, born 1982)|Mark Wright]] finished the 2007–08 season as the club's top goalscorer, helping the Dons win both the League Two title and the [[2007–08 Football League Trophy|Football League Trophy]]. [[Jon Otsemobor]] made 44 appearances for the club and scored the winning goal in the first match against [[AFC Wimbledon]] with a back-heel that was later dubbed the "[[Heel of God]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mkweb.co.uk/HEEL-GOD-s-years-Jon-Otsemobor-scored-magical/story-25033501-detail/story.html|title=HEEL OF GOD: It's two years on from when Jon Otsemobor scored magical goal for MK Dons against AFC Wimbledon|work=OneMK|url-access=subscription|access-date=7 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325183752/http://www.mkweb.co.uk/HEEL-GOD-s-years-Jon-Otsemobor-scored-magical/story-25033501-detail/story.html|archive-date=25 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Milton Keynes Dons were former Premier League player [[Jimmy Bullard]]'s last club before his retirement from football, making only three appearances for the club.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19786814 |title=Jimmy Bullard: MK Dons midfielder retires after knee injuries  |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=1 October 2012 |access-date=27 February 2022}}</ref> Similarly [[Dietmar Hamman]] made 12 appearances as a player-coach before retiring.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/milton_keynes_dons/8694849.stm|title=MK Dons sign Dietmar Hamann as player-coach|date=20 May 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=20 May 2010}}</ref>

Notable players loaned from other clubs were strikers [[Patrick Bamford]], who scored 18 goals in 37 games, [[Benik Afobe]], who became the league's top scorer in just six months, and [[Ángelo Balanta]], whose loan spell lasted three years.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons/balanta_back_but_doumbe_is_ruled_out_1_2922032 | title=Balanta back but Doumbe is ruled out | publisher=Milton Keynes Citizen | date=2 August 2011}}</ref> Former [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Ireland international]] [[Clinton Morrison]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15046392.stm |title=MK Dons bring in striker Clinton Morrison |work=BBC Sport |date=24 September 2011 |access-date=24 September 2011}}</ref> and former [[English Premier league|Premiership]] players [[Paul Rachubka]] and [[James Tavernier]] also had short loan spells with the club.

[[Alan Smith (footballer, born 1980)|Alan Smith]], most known for his time at [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] and [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], joined the club on loan, signing from [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] before making the move permanent totalling 67 appearances for the club. Other international players who have worn the Dons shirt include [[Tore André Flo]], [[Ali Gerba]], [[Michel Pensée]], [[Cristian Benavente]], [[Richard Pacquette]], [[Keith Andrews (footballer)|Keith Andrews]], [[Russell Martin (footballer)|Russell Martin]], [[Tom Flanagan (footballer)|Tom Flanagan]], [[Drissa Diallo]], [[Pelé (footballer, born 1978)|Pelé]] and [[Ousseynou Cissé]]. [[Joe Walsh (footballer, born 1992)|Joe Walsh]], [[Brendan Galloway]], [[Jordan Houghton]], Connor Furlong, [[Gboly Ariyibi]], [[Gareth Edds]] all represented their countries at youth level.

:''This list contains players who have made 100 or more league appearances (with the exception of Dele Alli). Appearances and goals apply to league matches only; substitute appearances are included. Names in '''bold''' denote current Milton Keynes Dons players.''

:''Statistics are correct as of 26 September 2022.''<ref name="soccerbaseplayers">{{cite web | url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players.sd | title=Soccerbase&nbsp;– The Internet Soccer Database | publisher=Soccerbase | access-date=29 September 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226092314/http://www.soccerbase.com/players.sd | archive-date=26 December 2008 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
!style="width:12em"|Name!!Nationality!!Position{{#tag:ref|For a full description of positions see [[Football (soccer) positions|Football positions]].|group="n"|name="positions"}}!!Milton Keynes Dons<br />career!!Apps!!Goals!!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Dele|Alli}}
|align="left"|{{ENG}}
|Midfielder||2011–2015||88||24
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Sam|Baldock}}
|align="left"|{{ENG}}
|Forward||2006–2011||102||33
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Dean|Bowditch}}
|align="left"|{{ENG}}
|Winger||2011–2017||185||37
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Samir|Carruthers}}
|align="left"|{{IRL}}
|Midfielder||2013–2017||117||6
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Luke|Chadwick}}
|align="left"|{{ENG}}
|Midfielder||2008–2014||210||17
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Gareth|Edds}}
|align="left"|{{AUS}}
|Midfielder||2004–2008||122||10
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Stephen|Gleeson}}
|align="left"|{{IRL}}
|Midfielder||2009–2014||174||16
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Willy|Guéret}}
|align="left"|{{FRA}}
|Goalkeeper||2007–2011||135||0
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Antony|Kay}}
|align="left"|{{ENG}}
|Defender||2012–2016||142||6
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Mathias|Kouo-Doumbé|Mathias Kouo-Doumbé}}
|align="left"|{{FRA}}
|Defender||2009–2013||121||11
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Peter|Leven}}
|align="left"|{{SCO}}
|Midfielder||2008–2011||113||22
|
|-
|align="left"|'''{{sortname|Dean|Lewington}}'''
|align="left"|{{ENG}}
|Defender||2004–||751||19
|{{#tag:ref|[[Dean Lewington]] played for [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] before the club was renamed in 2004. The date of Milton Keynes Dons's first league match, 7 August 2004, was agreed in 2006 to be the date on which Lewington ceased to play for Wimbledon and began to play for Milton Keynes Dons.|group="n"|name="lewington"}}
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|David|Martin|David Martin (footballer born 1986)}}
|align="left"|{{ENG}}
|Goalkeeper||2004–2006<br />2010–17||274||0
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Izale|McLeod}}
|align="left"|{{ENG}}
|Forward||2004–2007<br />2013–2014||165||62
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Sean|O'Hanlon}}
|align="left"|{{ENG}}
|Defender||2006–2011||157||15
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Clive|Platt}}
|align="left"|{{ENG}}
|Forward||2005–2007||102||27
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Darren|Potter}}
|align="left"|{{IRL}}
|Midfielder||2011–2017||228||9
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Daniel|Powell|Daniel Powell}}
|align="left"|{{ENG}}
|Forward||2008–2017||228||37
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Ben|Reeves}}
|align="left"|{{NIR}}
|Midfielder||2013–2017||102||22
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Jordan|Spence}}
|align="left"|{{ENG}}
|Defender||2013–2016||100||2
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Aaron|Wilbraham}}
|align="left"|{{ENG}}||Forward||2005–2011||178
|50
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|Shaun|Williams|Shaun Williams (footballer)}}
|align="left"|{{IRL}}||Defender||2011–2014||108
|19
|
|-
|align="left"|{{sortname|George|Williams|George Williams (footballer, born 1993)}}
|align="left|{{ENG}}
|Defender||2016–2021||142||4
|
|}

===Player of the Year===
{|
|-
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:white; color:black; border:1px solid red;"|Year
! style="background:white; color:black; border:1px solid red;"|Winner
|-
|2005||{{flagicon|England}} [[Ben Chorley]]
|-
|2006||{{flagicon|England}} [[Izale McLeod]]
|-
|2007||{{flagicon|England}} [[Clive Platt]]
|-
|2008||{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Keith Andrews (footballer)|Keith Andrews]]
|-
|2009||{{flagicon|England}} [[Aaron Wilbraham]]
|-
|2010||{{flagicon|England}} [[Luke Chadwick]]
|-
|2011||{{flagicon|England}} [[Luke Chadwick]]
|-
|2012||{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Darren Potter]]
|-
|2013||{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Shaun Williams (footballer)|Shaun Williams]]
|-
|2014||{{flagicon|Northern Ireland}} [[Ben Reeves]]
|-
|2015||{{flagicon|England}} [[Carl Baker]]
|-
|2016||{{flagicon|England}} [[David Martin (footballer, born 1986)|David Martin]]
|}
| style="width:10px;"|&nbsp;
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:white; color:black; border:1px solid red;"|Year
! style="background:white; color:black; border:1px solid red;"|Winner
|-
|2017||{{flagicon|England}} [[George Williams (footballer, born 1993)|George Williams]]
|-
|2018||''Not awarded''{{Efn|Due to the club's relegation to [[EFL League Two|League Two]] at the conclusion of the [[2017–18 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2017–18]] season and overall poor performance, Chairman [[Pete Winkelman]] decided not to award a Player of the Year honour.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2018/april/changes-to-the-end-of-season-awards/ |title=Changes to the End of Season Awards |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=27 April 2018 |access-date=16 January 2021 }}</ref>}}
|-
|2019||{{flagicon|England}} [[Alex Gilbey]]<ref name="GilbeyPOTYX2">{{cite web |url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/gilbey-doubles-he-claims-dons-player-year-second-year-2897048 |title=Gilbey doubles up as he claims Dons' Player of the Year for a second year |publisher=[[Milton Keynes Citizen]] |date=26 June 2020 |access-date=16 January 2021 }}</ref>
|-
|2020||{{flagicon|England}} Alex Gilbey<ref name="GilbeyPOTYX2" />
|-
|2021||{{flagicon|England}} [[Dean Lewington]]
|-
|2022||{{flagicon|England}} [[Scott Twine]]
|-
|2023||{{flagicon|England}} [[Jamie Cumming]]
|-
|2024||{{flagicon|England}} Alex Gilbey
|}
|}

Source:<ref name="MKDPotYWinners">{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2020/june/gallery-player-of-the-year-winners/ |title=Gallery: Player of the Year winners |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=26 June 2020 |access-date=16 January 2021 |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118230958/https://www.mkdons.com/news/2020/june/gallery-player-of-the-year-winners/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Notelist}}

==Club staff==
{{updated|19 September 2024}}<ref name="Who's Who">{{cite web|url=http://www.mkdons.com/club/whos_who/|title=Who's Who|publisher=Milton Keynes Dons|access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/teams/staff/ |title=Football Staff |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-date=14 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414164105/https://www.mkdons.com/teams/staff/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Football staff===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:white; color:black; border:1px solid red;"|Name
! style="background:white; color:black; border:1px solid red;"|Position
|-
|Liam Sweeting
|Sporting Director
|-
|Simon Crampton
|Performance Director
|-
|[[Scott Lindsey]]
|[[Manager (association football)|Manager]]
|-
|[[Ben Gladwin]]
|First Team Coach
|-
|[[Jamie Day (footballer, born 1979)|Jamie Day]]
|First Team Coach
|-
|Carl Laraman
|First Team Coach
|-
|Steve Hale
|Goalkeeping Coach
|-
|Adam Ross
|Head of Rehabilitation
|-
|Tom Delaney
|First Team Physiotherapist
|-
|Tom Bromley 
|Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
|-
|Shaun Howl
|Head Of Performance Analysis
|-
|David Perkins
|Lead First-Team Performance Analyst
|-
|Nathan Pilecki
|Head of Technical Scouting
|-
|Ram Srinivas
|Data Scientist
|-
|Harry Hagues
|Kit Manager
|-
|Ben Smith
|Academy Manager
|-
|Martin Harris
|Academy Operations Manager
|-
|Stephen Payne
|Academy Head of Coaching
|-
|John Bitting
|Lead Professional Development Phase Coach
|-
|Caitlin O'Reilly
|Senior Sports Therapist
|-
|Natascia Bernardi
|Academy Head of Player Care
|}

{{col-2}}

===Senior management===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:white; color:black; border:1px solid red;"|Name
! style="background:white; color:black; border:1px solid red;"|Position
|-
|Fahad Al Ghanim
|[[Chairman|Club Chairman]]
|-
|Hamad Almarzouq
|Deputy Chairman
|-
|Ryan Gawley
|Club Director / Group Finance Director
|-
|Andy Gibb
|Group Sales & Marketing Director
|-
|Andy Wooldridge
|Commercial Manager
|-
|Joe Thompson
|Head of Communications
|-
|Dave Clorley
|Head of Design
|-
|Oona Carmichael
|Customer Services Manager / Supporter Liaison Officer
|-
|Andy Standen
|Disability Liaison Officer / Safety Officer
|}
{{col-end}}

===Managerial history===
{{Main|List of Milton Keynes Dons F.C. managers}}

==Honours==
'''League'''
*[[EFL League One|League One]] (level 3)
**Runners-up: [[2014–15 Football League One|2014–15]]
*[[EFL League Two|League Two]] (level 4)
**Champions: [[2007–08 Football League Two|2007–08]]
**Promoted: [[2018–19 EFL League Two|2018–19]]

'''Cup'''
*[[Football League Trophy]]
**Winners: [[2007–08 Football League Trophy|2007–08]]
*[[Berks & Bucks Senior Cup]]
**Winners: 2006–07
**Runners-up: 2005–06, 2017–18
*Portimão Cup<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/portimonense/detalhe/portimao-cup-mk-dons-ganha-nos-penalties |title=Portimão Cup: MK Dons ganha nos "penalties" |publisher=[[Record (Portuguese newspaper)|Record]] |date=2 August 2004 |access-date=5 January 2021 }}</ref>
**Winners: 2004

Source: ''[https://www.mkdons.com/club/history/ MKDons.com]''

==Records and statistics==
{{Main|List of Milton Keynes Dons F.C. records and statistics}}
{{See also|Milton Keynes Dons F.C. league record by opponent}}

==Milton Keynes Dons Women==
{{Main|Milton Keynes Dons F.C. Women}}

The club founded a [[women's association football]] team in 2009. They operate as part of the club with an identical badge and strip, and as of the [[2018–19 FA Women's National League#Southern Division|2018–19]] season, the team share [[Stadium MK]] as their home stadium with their male counterparts, one of the first clubs in the country to do so.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2018/july/honeyman-delighted-after-stadium-mk-is-named-ladies-base/ |title=Honeyman delighted after Stadium MK is named Ladies base |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=25 July 2018 |access-date=25 July 2018 }}</ref> They compete in the [[FA Women's National League South]].

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|group=n}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons}}
* {{Official website|http://www.mkdons.co.uk}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160109220555/http://mkdsa.co.uk/ Official Supporters Association website] (archived 9 January 2016)
* [https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons MK Dons news] in the [[Milton Keynes Citizen]]  (current)

{{Milton Keynes Dons F.C.}}
{{Milton Keynes Dons F.C. seasons}}
{{EFL Championship}}
{{EFL League One}}
{{EFL League Two}}
{{Wimbledon F.C.}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C.| ]]
[[Category:2004 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 2004]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:Sport in Milton Keynes]]
[[Category:Wimbledon F.C.]]
[[Category:English Football League clubs]]
[[Category:EFL Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Buckinghamshire]]