FORMER West Ham star Jack Collison has agreed his first job in football management.
Collison, 34, has agreed to take over United States side Huntsville City, a brand new football team.
Taking to Twitter, Collison said: “Can’t wait to get going… Excited for the challenge ahead.”
A club statement on Collison’s appointment read: “Huntsville City FC announced today the appointment of Jack Collison as the club’s first Head Coach in team history.
“A former player of West Ham United in the English Premier League with a vast history of developing young talent in the U.S. and abroad, Collison will lead Huntsville in its inaugural MLS Next Pro season this spring.”
Nashville SC – who Huntsville will be an affiliate team to – CEO and Huntsville City FC President, Ian Ayre added: “Huntsville City FC is a unique opportunity that sits astride a number of key objectives…
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“Jack is the ideal fit for this team with his broad mix of playing experience at a high level and the management of youth soccer programmes in the UK and the US which give him a broad mix of experience.
“We believe with the guidance and support of our coaching staff at NSC, Jack and his team have the ideal platform to create something very special at HCFC.”
Collison retired back in 2016 after a short stint at Peterborough.
The Welshman also enjoyed periods throughout his career at Bournemouth, Wigan and Ipswich, but made his name at West Ham between 2007 and 2013.
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The central midfielder emerged through the club’s academy and made 121 appearances, including 74 games in the Premier League where he scored seven goals and added six assists.
Following retirement, Collison started work as a youth coach, managing Peterborough’s Under 21 and U18 sides before becoming West Ham’s youth manager.
Collison then headed to the US to work for Atlanta’s Academy in 2019, before becoming Atalanta United 2 manager in 2021.
He remained at the club until now, as he takes over Huntsville.
On his appointment, Collison told club media: “I am very excited at the prospect of bringing soccer to Rocket City and building a team that really represents the community.
“I will look to build an exciting, fast-paced brand of soccer that can bring success on the pitch in Huntsville, whilst helping to develop some of the future stars for Nashville SC.
“My staff and I are currently hard at work to achieve these goals and can’t wait to see everyone packed inside the Joe Davis stadium supporting a team we can ALL be proud of.”
The club are a newly formed team based in Huntsville, Alabama, with partner club Nashville SC being based in the neighbouring state of Tennessee.
However, they will not be competing against the likes of David Beckham’s Inter Miami or Wayne Rooney’s DC United, as they are not in Major League Soccer.
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Instead, Huntsville will enter the MLS Next Pro League, which started in March 2022.
The league is geared towards helping young talent develop, and links the MLS to the affiliate league MLS Next.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
