A former Chelsea youth team player, he moved from Mile Oak Rovers into the English Football League with Notts County in 1984.
Wolves won promotion as champions of the Fourth Division in 1987–88, and Downing also played in the 1988 Football League Trophy final victory over Burnley at Wembley Stadium.
[4] When Ward left the club to join Carlisle United in October 2007, Downing stepped in as caretaker manager, before being given the position on a full-time basis on 2 November.
He endured a difficult start to his management career, but was aided by three loan signings from Bristol City in the January transfer window – Steve Brooker, Alex Russell and Richard Keogh, as well as free agent defender Alan Wright.
[10] He was not a popular figure with fans at The Hawthorns due to his years of service at Black Country derby rivals Wolves.
[12] Alan Irvine got the job however, and Downing left the club in January 2015 following a backroom reshuffle by new boss Tony Pulis.
[5] Downing left his post in August 2020 to join Championship club Bristol City as an assistant head coach to Dean Holden.
[19] He was appointed as first-team head coach at Plymouth Argyle in December 2021, working under manager Steven Schumacher, who clarified that "Keith has come in as my No 2, if you like".
[21] In July 2022, Downing returned to Birmingham City as one of two assistants to newly appointed head coach John Eustace.
[23] In February 2024, he reunited with Eustace again when appointed as an assistant coach alongside Matt Gardiner at Blackburn Rovers.
[24] Eustace changed jobs to manage Derby County 12 months later and Downing followed him to Pride Park Stadium to become a first-team coach.