He spent two seasons at "Boro", helping the club to promotion out of the Second Division via the play-offs in 1988, before he was sold on to Port Vale in February 1989 for £200,000.
He joined the back-room staff at Port Vale and was promoted to first-team manager in October 2008, vacating the post in May 2009.
Despite being a Birmingham City fan, Glover began his footballing career with hometown club Aston Villa, progressing through the youth team ranks from the age of fourteen to eventually sign professional terms in December 1981 following an eighteen-month apprenticeship.
[4][5] He made his debut under Tony Barton on 11 January 1984, in a 3–0 defeat to Norwich City at Carrow Road in an FA Cup Third Round Replay.
[7] "Boro" won promotion into the First Division in 1987–88; they had finished behind second place Aston Villa on goals scored, but managed to beat Chelsea 2–1 on aggregate in the play-off final.
He had been at Middlesbrough for just under eighteen months and made a total of 61 appearances, scoring seven goals; during this time, he played as a midfielder as Gary Pallister and Tony Mowbray were well established at centre-back.
[6] He became an instant hit with the Port Vale fans as he marked England international Steve Bull out of the game on his debut, a goalless draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A short spell as Director of football at non-League side Stone Dominoes followed before he came back to Vale Park in February 2004, when he was appointed assistant to the new manager Martin Foyle.
Glover was in contention for the permanent manager position, but his record of guiding Vale to only two wins from eight games contributed to his failure to get the job.
[27] In January, striker Luke Rodgers was released from his contract after a bust-up with Glover,[28] and immediately signed with Yeovil Town.
[30] Glover signed loanee Lee Collins to a permanent contract, after Wolverhampton Wanderers agreed to release the young defender.
[36] Many fans, we well as local journalists and pundits questioned Glover's tactical decisions, team selection and managerial abilities in general.
[40] Glover attempted to arrest his team's slide down the table by signing Carlisle United striker Kevin Gall on loan.
[42] In March, Kyle Perry was allowed to join local non-League side Northwich Victoria,[43] after being told he had no future at Vale.
[46] Slow season ticket sales pressured both Glover's supporters and detractors in the Port Vale boardroom to consider appointing a new manager in the summer of 2009.
[47] Fans again protested after the final home game, a 1–1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers, with Glover having to be escorted from the ground.
Player Gareth Owen later said he was "someone I have the utmost respect for as a person... Deano was a nice guy, but things just didn't work out for him as manager.
"[55] Chairman Bill Bratt also made the following statement regarding Glover's sacking: Dean has been offered another role at the club in which he would work alongside Mark Grew with the youth team.
[56]On 21 May, it was confirmed that Glover had left the club after turning down the youth team job and was opting for new pastures after an eighteen-year association with Port Vale as a player, coach and manager.
In March 2010, he expressed an interest in the vacant management position at Nantwich Town of the Northern Premier League.
[62] Following Micky Adams's resignation and Rob Page's promotion to manager Glover was elevated to first-team coach in November 2014.