Shaun Derry appointed first-team coach at Crystal Palace
Derry returned to Palace in September 2019
Written by Training Ground Guru — August 16, 2021
SHAUN DERRY has been appointed first-team coach at Crystal Palace as Head Coach Patrick Vieira puts the final touches to his backroom staff.
The Frenchman has already added assistant Osian Roberts, Development Coach Said Aigoun and first-team coach Kristian Wilson to his staff. There is a new emphasis on developing young players at the club and Vieira believes Derry, who has been in charge of the Under-23s since September 2019, can provide a valuable bridge between the Academy and first team.
“I really wanted to have somebody who knows the club up and down and Shaun's been here for quite a long time as a player and as a coach," he said. "He knows the players from the Academy as well.
“Nobody will talk about the club as well as Shaun so to have him as part of my staff is something that I'm looking forward to and it's been great to have him next to me."
Derry made 226 appearances in two separate spells as a player for the Eagles. Meanwhile, his former U23s assistant Stephen Rice is leaving the club to become Opposition Analyst/ Head Scout with the Ireland team.
Rice has been with Palace since September 2020 and, along with Derry, led the U23s to promotion to Premier League 2 Division 1 via the play-offs last season.
He worked for the Football Association of Ireland for a decade before joining Palace, latterly as their U15s coach. He said: "Leaving the club was not an easy decision but the opportunity to work at senior international level for my country was something I could not turn down as it has been an ambition of mine for a long time.”
Paddy McCarthy will now move up from U18s lead - a role he has held since November 2016 - to become U23s boss. Darren Powell will be his assistant.
Rob Quinn moves up from U16s lead - a role he has had for a decade - to become U18s lead.
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