Credit: The FA
Brighton & Hove Albion have appointed Dan Ashworth as the club’s new technical director. Ashworth is currently The Football Association’s Technical Director, and is set to begin his role with Albion in the spring.
Chairman Tony Bloom said, “There is no doubting Dan’s standing within the game, and we are absolutely delighted that he will be joining us as our technical director.
“Dan’s CV speaks for itself, and while his work alongside Gareth Southgate, with England’s senior men’s team, was well documented last summer during the World Cup, it’s also worth highlighting his excellent work and successes across all the England men’s, women’s and junior teams.”
Ashworth, 47, will be responsible for the club’s ongoing football development. He will also oversee the academy and medical departments, as well as player recruitment at all levels.
Paul Barber, Albion’s chief executive, added, “We’ve been delighted with the progress we’ve made across the club with all our teams over recent seasons, and our aim is that Dan’s arrival will help us to build on the great work that’s already been done here.
“Our first-team set up, led by Chris Hughton, will continue to operate as it currently does, reporting to me day to day, and to the chairman. Similarly, we’ve been delighted with the work Paul Winstanley and his team have done over the past three and a half years in terms of player recruitment.
“Paul and his player recruitment and analysis team will report to Dan, but importantly their roles and responsibilities will not change. Paul will continue to head up this area, while continuing to work very closely with Chris, Tony and myself, as he has done for several years now.
“Our head of academy John Morling, head of medical services Adam Brett, and pathway development manager David Weir, will all report into Dan in his new role.
“We’ve been seeking a technical director for some considerable time now. We met some outstanding candidates along the way, both in the UK and overseas, but we’ve ended up with our preferred choice.
“It’s testament to our existing technical staff in all areas that their highly professional and consistent approach has given us the necessary time and space to recruit the very best man for the job. We are thrilled that Dan will be joining us.”
Dan Ashworth said, “I am delighted to be joining Brighton & Hove Albion, one of the country’s most progressive clubs. This is a huge opportunity for me and I have taken a lot of time to talk to Tony Bloom, Paul Barber and Chris Hughton before making the decision to make the move.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at The Football Association, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the chairman Greg Clarke, CEO Martin Glenn, England managers Gareth Southgate and Phil Neville, as well as the coaches and staff at all levels who have supported me so well.
“The success we have had with our national teams is down to careful planning and high performance from the players, but also the hard work and professionalism of a lot of people over a sustained period of time, and of course the relationship we have had with the clubs, the leagues and the National Game. It’s been an honour and great pleasure to serve my country in the past half-decade.”
Ashworth, who began his career in football as a youth team player at Norwich City, is one of the game’s most respected technical and coaching directors.
He has served Norwich, Peterborough United, Cambridge United and West Bromwich Albion in various coaching and development roles. In 2013 he left his role as sporting and technical director at the Hawthorns for his current role at The FA.
Ashworth is the architect of the England DNA programme, which now runs through the core of the England men’s and women’s teams at all levels. It has already borne success, which includes World Cup wins at men’s under-17 and under-20 levels; while the women’s senior team finished third at the 2015 tournament and have qualified for next year’s finals in France.
His most noteworthy achievement is the role he played towards the men’s team’s appearance in the semi-final in Russia, and having also been key in the recruitment of Gareth Southgate as England men’s manager and Phil Neville as women’s manager, Ashworth will leave an impressive legacy at St George’s Park.
