Latest news with #under21s
New York Times
22-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Leeds finalising return of Jonny Howson to club as player-coach
Leeds United are finalising the return of Jonny Howson to the club. The 37-year-old left the club 13 years ago after making 225 appearances, but now looks set to make his comeback as a player-coach. The veteran was out of contract at Middlesbrough this summer after eight years on Teesside and was not offered new terms. The Leeds-born midfielder will now take on a player-coach role with the club's under-21s at Thorp Arch. Howson's brother has alluded to his return, posting a picture of a club training shirt bearing his initials on social media this week. United sources suggest the move is not complete yet, but there is confidence the former captain will head back to where his career started. Howson would be permitted to play for the under-21s as an over-age player, but it remains to be seen if the club would look to declare him as a homegrown name in their senior list submitted to the Premier League. After five-and-a-half seasons as a senior professional with Leeds, across League One and the Championship, Howson moved to Norwich City in the Premier League in 2011-12. He then moved on to Middlesbrough in the second tier ahead of the 2017-18 season. Scott Gardner is United's current under-21 head coach. Howson will join his backroom staff and prove to be a valuable leader on the field with that younger group when he is asked to play. ()
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Parker adds former midfielder Cork to coaching staff
Former Burnley midfielder Jack Cork has joined Scott Parker's first team coaching set-up ahead of their return to the Premier made over 250 appearances for the Clarets during a five-year spell in the top flight and spent last season with the under-21s as a coach."It's a really exciting moment for me to be honest," said Cork. "I'm still quite new to coaching."We had a really good year last season with the under-21s. I really enjoyed my first season in coaching, working alongside the likes of Andy Farrell, Tony Philliskirk and Matt Walsh."Then the manager rang me in the summer to say there would be some changes within the coaching set-up and asked if I would be interested in moving over and being around the first team."It was an amazing opportunity I couldn't turn down."
New York Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Liverpool appoint former Wales manager Rob Page as under-21s head coach
Liverpool have appointed former Wales manager Rob Page as the new head coach of their under-21s. The 50-year-old takes over from Barry Lewtas, who left the club earlier this month after 12 years of service. It's Page's first role since he was sacked by Wales last June following four years in charge of the national team which saw him lead them to both the Euros and the World Cup. Advertisement Liverpool believe his appointment can help enhance the pathway for young players from the club's academy to the first-team set-up. Current Liverpool youngsters Lewis Koumas and Owen Beck were among those to progress from Wales' youth ranks into the senior squad under the guidance of Page, as well as Liverpool academy graduates such as Harry Wilson and Neco Williams. After ending his playing career, which included eight years with Watford, in 2011, Page's first senior managerial role came at Port Vale, where he was made caretaker manager in September 2014. He was appointed on a permanent basis the following month and held the position until the end of the 2015-16 season. Page then joined League One side Northampton Town in May 2016 but only lasted seven months in the role and was sacked in January 2017. He was hired as Wales under-21s coach later that year and became an assistant coach under Ryan Giggs in 2019. Following Giggs' arrest in November 2020, he was placed in interim charge of the side, guiding the nation to the round of 16 at the following summer's European Championships. Giggs officially stepped down in June 2022 and Page became the permanent manager. He led the team at 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Liverpool FC can confirm the appointment of Rob Page as the new head coach of the club's U21s group. — Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 25, 2025 He replaces Lewtas, who recently stepped down, saying the time was right to pursue 'a new adventure'. He started off as under-12s coach at Liverpool before working his way up the ranks. He led the under-18s to FA Youth Cup glory in 2019 before taking over the under-21s in the summer of 2020. 'Sometimes you just know the time is right for a new adventure and I really feel the perfect time for me is now,' he told 'Of course, I'm sad to be moving on but I also have 12 wonderful years to look back on, including the last five with the 21s. Advertisement 'Seeing young players make that next step to the LFC first team or moving on to success elsewhere is hugely satisfying.' Lewtas helped develop the likes of Curtis Jones, Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton, James McConnell and Vitezslav Jaros, who all made the leap to the first team from academy level. ()
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Swansea U21s have another Nathaniel MG Cup chance
With no south Wales derby to look forward to after Cardiff City's relegation to League One, Swansea fans can instead look forward to a potential encounter between the clubs' under-21s and Bluebirds' junior teams have won wildcard entries to Welsh domestic football's 2025-26 Nathaniel MG Cup for a third successive Cymru Premier's dominant force, The New Saints, are reigning holders of the Welsh League youngsters went out in the first round last July, losing 5-3 in a penalty shootout at Baglan draw for the 2025-26 first round takes places on Wednesday, 25 June and Swansea will be hoping to go significantly further this time around.
