Blog > News & Trivia

Biweekly Staff Roundup: 16th to 30th August

30 Aug, 2024
Biweekly Staff Roundup: 16th to 30th August

Transfer deadline day is now over, and with all Europe's 'Big Five' leagues having returned to action, clubs have taken every last opportunity to improve their squads while they can. We#ve seen plenty of signings to be confirmed over last few days, as everyone looks to fill any key gaps in personnel and boost their chances for the 2024/25 campaign. 

The same can be said for the work that goes on behind the scenes; across the world, various clubs have made key appointments in the last two weeks in a bid to finalise their team of coaches, director, analysts and other professionals. While most clubs would ideally have these structures in place at the beginning of the summer break, the constantly-evolving world of football means that can't always be the case. As a result, there are several interesting staff switches that have taken place in professional football in the last fortnight.

Gareth Southgate and David Moyes, UEFA

It's only been a few weeks since Gareth Southgate stepped down from his role as manager of the England men's team, following another disappointing European Championship final defeat, this time at the hands of Spain. His eight years at the helm were extremely successful in comparison with the previous decades, with the team reaching three major tournament semi-finals and only missing out on Euro 2020 glory on penalties. Now, England's former boss is returning to the game, with the qualities Southgate showed during his England tenure — calm, authoritative leadership, communication skills, and an eye for talent — persuading UEFA to recruit him as a Technical Observer. This role involves "analysing and reviewing matches from a coach's perspective… then produc[ing] a report after each game, providing strategic and tactical feedback." It's certainly a less demanding role than his former job, and one that will allow him to spend more time relaxing with his family whilst maintaining a level of involvement in the professional game. Alongside Southgate, former Everton, Manchester United and West Ham manager David Moyes has also been appointed as a UEFA Technical Observer for the new season. Moyes has prior experience in this position, having served under UEFA at Euro 2024.

Ashley Cole and Joleon Lescott, England

Staying on the subject of international football, the team tasked with replacing Southgate at England on a temporary basis has now been fully assembled. We reported in our last staff movement roundup that Lee Carsley had been made the interim manager of the England men's team, and now the coaches assisting him have been unveiled. Former Chelsea and Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole, who is one of only nine men to record 100 caps for England, will become the new assistant coach to Carsley. Cole previously assisted Carsley at England U21s while also working at Chelsea's academy.

He's completed spells at Everton as a first-team coach and Chelsea as an academy coach, having first transitioned into coaching after retiring at Derby. He'll also be joined in the England camp by another former Premier League stalwart and England international, Joleon Lescott, who made 26 caps for the national team between 2007 and 2013. Crucially, Lescott knows how to work effectively with Carsley and Cole, having worked as an assistant coach with the pair at the 2023 U21s Euros, which England won.

Andrew Crofts, Brighton & Hove Albion 

Andrew Crofts racked up 125 appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion during his two spells at the club, and since retiring in 2021 he's been contributing off the pitch, working in the south coast club's academy set-up and even stepping in as interim head coach after Graham Potter's departure in September 2022. Now, he's assuming a brand new role at Brighton, after Fabian Hurzeler appointed him men's assistant first-team head coach last week. "This is great news for the club," said Hurzeler of Crofts' step up. "I have seen first-hand [his] contribution to the club."

Andrew Crofts, James Rowberry, Piet Cremers, Ryland Morgans & Martyn Margetson, Wales

It's been a busy week for Andrew Crofts — as well as stepping into a new role at Brighton, the former Wales international has also assumed a brand new position with his national team's set-up. As a player, Crofts made 29 appearances for Wales, and this experience (along with his clear coaching know-how) persuaded the new men's team manager Craig Bellamy to appoint him as first-team coach. He'll perform this role alongside his duties at Brighton.

Meanwhile, several other coaches have been brought into the Wales set-up to assist Bellamy; former Newport County head coach James Rowberry, ex-Manchester City coach Piet Cremers, experienced goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson and Wales' former head of performance Ryland Morgans have all been added to the new-look Wales coaching structure. "I've worked with all of them previously, either as a coach or as a player," said Bellamy of the new arrivals. "As a collective I believe the balance and various expertise between us is the best we could have asked for… I can't wait for us to meet up with the players and get things started with them."

Melissa Clarke-Reid, Arsenal Women

Arsenal Women have made a couple of key appointments in the last fortnight; on 20th August, news broke that former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Melissa Clarke-Reid (who was formerly known as Melissa Phillips before she changed her name earlier this summer after getting married) had been made Arsenal's new Head of Analytics. With coaching experience in the NWSL, the WSL and the Championship, the UEFA A License-qualified coach is well-respected across the women's game, and Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall was full of praise for their new member of staff. "With her coaching experience and her analyst experience, I think she is really going to get our programme to the next level," he said. "I am really happy to have her on board."

Susana Ferreras, Arsenal Women

As well as hiring Melissa Clarke-Reid, Arsenal Women further strengthened their data and analytics department with the promotion of Spanish data scientist Susana Ferreras to the role of Data Analytics Lead. Ferreras will manage the side's Research and Insights team, taking on a position that was vacated earlier this summer when Tolly Coburn left the club to become the English FA's Head of Men's Insights. The role involves "implementing advanced analytical models, providing actionable insights and driving evidence-based processes and decisions around player selection, development and performance of England's men's teams." Ferreras' prior experience at Arsenal — she joined as a Data Scientist in 2018 and was later described by their former Head of Analytics Sarah Rudd as "so impressive" — convinced the club she was the perfect woman for the job.

Alex Clapham, Borussia Dortmund

On 18th August, it was reported that 35-year-old English coach Alex Clapham, who has previously held roles at clubs including Genoa, Standard Liege and Hertha Berlin, had been appointed first-team coach at German giants Borussia Dortmund. The Bundesliga club recruited Clapham off the back of his work as a First Team Coach and Tactical Advisor for the 777 group of clubs, which includes Vasco da Gama and Red Star Paris as well as the aforementioned three teams.

On top of working in this multi-club ownership group, Clapham also has experience as a Set set-piece coach at Southampton and an Academy coach at Manchester City. After the move was announced, he took to LinkedIn to write: "I'm extremely proud to have joined Borussia Dortmund as First Team Coach. It's a massive honour to become part of the BVB family and represent this mythical club."

Mark Bitcon, Southampton 

The departure of former Southampton director of football Jason Wilcox to Manchester United earlier this summer was a real blow to the club. Wilcox became one of several new faces at Old Trafford, while his former club decided to restructure things and split his responsibilities between several members of staff. Head of Recruitment Darren Mowbray, Head Coach Russell Martin and Chief Executive Phil Parsons all stepped up to the plate on a temporary basis; however, it has now been announced that the club's former Director of Performance Mark Bitcon has been promoted to the new role of Head of Football Operations to fill the void left by Wilcox. Talking to fans about the club's structure at a recent event, Bitcoin said "It's the ability to share and collaborate that is our real strength… I think there's a humbleness about the group to share."

Dmitri Halajko, Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town faced a tricky start to life back in the Premier League, facing Liverpool and Manchester City in their opening two fixtures. However, after a remarkably impressive double promotion to the top flight, they are looking to continue building, and their recent appointment of Dmitri Halajko as Academy Boss is a move designed to help lay foundations for the future.

The former Sporting Director of League Two side Colchester United, Halajko was brought in on 22nd  August to replace the departing Dean Wright. Previously, the 44-year-old UEFA A License coach has worked at Norwich City, Leicester City and West Ham United.

Jeremy Sauer, Wycombe Wanderers

Former AFC Wimbledon Academy Manager Jeremy Sauer — who worked for the south London club for 11 years before departing to join West Ham — has been unveiled as the new Academy Director at Wycombe Wanderers. This is a new role at the League One club, who do things slightly differently; they scrapped their Category Two Academy in 2012 and aren't currently operating inside the EPPP system. However, the appointment of Sauer seems to show that despite this shift, Wycombe are still committed to youth development.