Gareth Prosser appointed Everton Academy Director
Gareth Prosser worked with Kevin Thelwell at Derby and Wolves
Written by Training Ground Guru — June 20, 2022
GARETH PROSSER has been appointed as the new Academy Director of Everton.
The move reunites him with Director of Football Kevin Thelwell, with whom he worked at both Derby and Wolves. Since 2019 Prosser has been General Manager of the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC), which was set up by the Premier League, Football League and Football Association to quality assure Academies.
“I am delighted and very proud with the opportunity to lead Everton Academy," said Prosser, who was Academy Manager at Wolves from 2008 to 2019 and Assistant Academy Manager at Derby from 2006 to 2008.
"Throughout the interview process, it was clear from our CEO Denise (Barrett-Baxendale) and Kevin the importance of the Academy moving forwards to support the ambitious aims of the football club.
“The target is clear: to create a best-in-class Academy programme that will allow Everton to attract, recruit and develop top people; players and staff.
“I look forward to working with the Academy, Denise, Kevin, Frank (Lampard) and the wider club staff to ensure the programme is the best it can be to provide players with opportunities to represent this great club. We all need to work together to make this happen.
“I would also like to thank the Professional Game Academy Audit Board, chaired by Jane Purdon, and the PGAAC team for their support. The PGAAC has made great progress over the past three years, working in collaboration with the Premier League, EFL and the Football Association to ensure the Academy system operates safely and to help raise standards. I wish the company well for the future.”
Prosser replaces David Unsworth, who left the club after nine years in April to pursue his own managerial ambitions.
Thelwell said: “Gareth is an outstanding Academy Director and his recent work as General Manager with the PGAAC has continued that development within the area of youth development.
“We want our Academy to operate at the highest possible standards and, after a rigorous and thorough recruitment process, felt Gareth - as the lead practitioner responsible for setting and developing these standards for all Academies across the country in his previous role - was the standout candidate to support that development at Everton.”
Meanwhile, Paul Tait has been named as the club’s Under-21s Head Coach, with Leighton Baines succeeding him as U18s Head Coach.
Further Academy roles are be appointed, including Loan Pathways Manager and Head of Performance Analysis and Insights, which are being advertised on TGG.
Tait has had five years overseeing the club’s U18s, having joined the club 12 years ago. Baines made 348 appearances for the club before becoming a Professional Development Phase coach at the end of 2020.
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