[4] Playing as a midfielder he also spent time with non-League clubs, including Barking,[5] Romford,[6] AFC Hornchurch and Brentwood Town, before his career was ended by injury in 2007.
[7] When he took over at Concord Rangers (first as assistant and then as joint manager with Danny Scopes[8]), the club was playing in the Essex Senior Football League, in front of crowds of around 50 people.
In his last season in charge, Concord reached the first round proper of the FA Cup, while narrowly missing out on a play-off spot.
[17] On 8 April 2018, he led his team to the EFL Trophy final against Shrewsbury Town at Wembley Stadium which they won 1–0 owing to a goal by Elliott Whitehouse.
[19] The following season, Cowley guided Lincoln to promotion to League One, returning to the third tier of English football for the first time since 1999.
[23] On 17 July 2020, Huddersfield defeated promotion-seeking West Bromwich Albion to all but ensure the club's Championship survival.
[25] On 19 March 2021, Danny Cowley was appointed as head coach of Portsmouth on a contract until the end of the 2020–21 season, with his brother Nicky once again joining as his assistant.
[28] Cowley won the EFL League One Manager of the Month award for November 2021 after winning thirteen points from five matches.
[30] Cowley started the 2022–23 season in style, winning the League One Manager of the Month award for August 2022 after picking up thirteen points from a possible fifteen that saw Portsmouth in early contention for an automatic promotion spot.
[31] This strong start to the season fell away and following a run of over two months without a league victory, Cowley was sacked on 2 January 2023, with his side sitting in 12th position.