Danny started as a Sunderland associate schoolboy during Arthur Cox's time at Roker Park, but signed for Wigan Athletic, then a Northern Premier League club, at the age of 15.The Spireites' game against Bury in April, 1980, was a hard-fought thing, and no-one emerged with greater credit than Danny Wilson, who was one of six Shakers booked that day. A few months later, he became a Chesterfield player.

His ability to harass opponents while also playing his own passing game led to his attracting the attention of many top clubs, and Chesterfield were eventually forced to cash in on his genius as financial constraints bit hard. Although Dan's fee was not unreasonable by the standards of the time Chesterfield couldn't afford it, and the interest payments due to Bury piled up. He joined Brian Clough's Forest in a convoluted player plus cash deal that saw Calvin Plummer and Steve Kendal sign permanently for Chesterfield after loan spells.

Danny's time at the City Ground was quite remarkable, in that he seemed to be overlooked in an unaccountably calculating manner.His ordeal ended upon signing for Brighton, with whom he enhanced his reputation despite suffering relegation to Division Three in his last season.He joined First Division Luton in the summer of '87: the Hatters reached the FA Cup semi-final in his first season and Danny scored in their memorable League Cup final win over Arsenal.After three excellent years at Luton he joined a Wednesday team in need of his inspiration: they were promoted to Division One and won the League Cup in his first season.

He came to be very highly regarded at Hillsborough, but was allowed to join Barnsley as Assistant Manager to Viv Anderson.An initial lack of playing success for the pair led to Danny taking a long time to win the fans over; Anderson left after a year, and Wilson was promoted to succeed him.Under Danny Wilson, Barnsley became respected as an excellent footballing side, and won promotion to the Carling Premiership in 1997.Although their stay lasted just one season, Wilson emerged with great credit for his honesty, humility and apparent determination to avoid a cynical, "win at all costs" philosophy.Barnsley seemed as desperate to keep him as other clubs are to have him as their manager: despite pledging his future to the Oakwell side early in the summer of '98, Danny was tempted to resign and take up the reins at Hillsborough.

He became Sheffield Wednesday's manager on 6th. July, 1998. A couple of years later he took over the reins at Bristol City and, despite crafting a fine footballing side, Danny could not deliver the promotion that a club of their resources expected, and he left the Robins in the summer of 2004. He became manager of Milton Keynes Dons in December 2004 when they looked doomed for a second successive relegation, but he guided them to safety by beating Tranmere Rovers on the final day of the season.  When MK went down at the end of 2005-6, Danny and the Dons parted company.