The 36-year-old links back up with the club after retiring from professional football at the end of the 2021/22 season.
In what was his third stint at Dale, he climbed into the top ten of our all-time appearance list, making over 300 appearances.
He was then employed as a Player Development Phase Coach at Port Vale shortly after and spent time in interim charge of the First Team with fellow academy coaches of the Valiants before Darren Moore’s appointment in February 2024.
Done, who now reunites with ex-teammates Jimmy McNulty and Josh Lillis on the coaching setup, commented:
“It’s happened pretty fast, I had the phone call with Jimmy a couple of weeks ago and I’m delighted to be back at the football club.
“It’s great to be back amongst the lads, seeing old and new faces.
“I’ve been exposed to coaching (at Port Vale) every day, leading a group and I’ve really enjoyed it.
“Hopefully I can bring some of that experience to Jimmy and the football club.
“Since the day I left here, I’ve kept my eye on them, been in regular contact and our experience together now is invaluable.”
Doney first step foot on the Crown Oil Arena surface in July 2010 from Hereford United, signing on a six-month contract and scored his first league goal against Oldham Athletic the following November.
After spells at Barnsley and Scottish side Hibernian, Dale re-signed Matty for the 2013-14 season, playing 38 times in our promotion-winning campaign and as a result signed a new two-year deal.
The January of 2015 took him to Sheffield United and after a two-year stay at Bramall Lane, returned to Dale in 2017, completing five additional seasons and scored a memorable final goal for the club on the last day of the 2021-22 season at Newport County.
Welcome back, Matty!
