Current PFA Chairman and LFE Progression Ambassador Chris Powell has been appointed as Leicester City’s new First Team Development Coach.
The 39 year old former England international played a part in the Foxes promotion winning season last term and will again be registered as a player at the Walkers Stadium.
Speaking to the Club’s official website a delighted Powell said:
“After last year, I was thinking of not playing on. I spoke to the boss in the summer and I am going to be a development coach around the first team rather than the youth team or reserves, and also to be registered as a player so I have got the best of both worlds.”
“Obviously I will not be looking to play too often and I am also taking one or two sessions which has been exciting and a great learning curve for me.”
“That’s what I will be doing throughout the year. Some days I will have a white (coaching staff) t-shirt, today I have got the blue (playing staff) one on so it’s been great.”
A big part of Powell’s presence was his role as mentor to the younger players and that valuable aspect of the job will be repeated.
He said:
“I am there also to talk to the players. We do have a young squad and the majority are new to the Championship. I will be travelling with the team, speaking to them quietly which was what I was doing last year, maybe pulling aside some of the younger boys and telling them what to expect and I think it worked.”
bq.“I am going to be a development coach around the first team and also registered as a player so I have got the best of both worlds. I want to become a manager in the future and I don’t see a better place for me to learn.”
