CV's Weekly Coaching News
Jack Wilshere has taken his next step on the coaching ladder, joining Johannes Hoff Thorup’s staff at Norwich City as a first-team coach. Wilshere leaves Arsenal having been Under-18 head coach there since 2022, reaching the FA Youth Cup Final in his first full season in charge. In turn, Arsenal have named Adam Birchall as new head coach of the 18s, stepping up from his role as assistant. And Arsenal academy goalkeeper coach Jeff Richardson has been hired by Brentford as their YDP goalkeeper lead. Two departures in the EFL this week, first at League One Burton Albion, who sacked former Chelsea Under-21s head coach Mark Robinson on Wednesday, after a run of seven successive defeats. And in League Two, Swindon Town are searching for their sixth permanent manager since July 2021, having today relieved Mark Kennedy of his managerial duties. Belgian coach Jimmy Coenraets – just 29 years old – has been named as head coach of National Women’s Soccer League club Utah Royals on a permanent basis. Meanwhile, former Scotland international and Borussia Dortmund player Scott Booth has been appointed new head coach of Aberdeen Women. Booth was previously in charge of Glasgow City – where he won four Scottish Women’s Premier League titles – as well as Birmingham City Women in England.
With Saudi Arabia sitting outside the automatic qualification spots for the 2026 World Cup, Roberto Mancini has left his role as head coach. There is no word yet on whether his assistant Yaya Touré is staying in position, with three weeks until Saudi face a crucial qualifier against Australia. Meanwhile, Denmark have appointed former Brentford assistant Brian Riemer as their new men’s head coach. French club Montpellier have fired former Armenia international Michel Der Zakarian – the first sacking of the Ligue 1 season – with the club bottom of the table. And the first managerial casualty of the Bundesliga season is Peter Zeidler, who has departed bottom of the table Bochum, along with sporting director Marc Lettau. Former Dundee United manager Liam Fox has been appointed as Hearts' assistant first-team coach, after serving as caretaker manager at Tynecastle before Neil Critchley’s recent arrival. And Duncan Ferguson has been sacked as manager of Inverness Caledonian Thistle, as the third-tier club fights for its survival after entering administration. Striker Billy Mckay and first-team coach Scott Kellacher have taken over the running of the team.
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Capped by England this season and playing for Lille in the Champions League, Angel Gomes’ star is on the rise right now. Here, our UEFA-licensed coaches have analysed the midfielder’s game.