John Ebbrell has taken up a newly-created position within Everton’s reshaped Academy structure and will become Player Development Senior Coach. Ebbrell assumes the role having been a valued part of the Academy coaching set-up since 2015 and having served as Under-23s assistant manager for the past six years. Since November 2020, Ebbrell has held the dual role of Under-23s assistant manager and Head of Academy Coaching.
The new position, established by Director of Football Kevin Thelwell as part of the club's strategic review, will see Ebbrell focus on the implementation of a structure and activities for players in the Professional Development phase (Under-17 to Under-23), offering an increased focus on the individual development of players, as well as supporting staff who lead teams. Ebbrell will work closely alongside new Academy Director Gareth Prosser, with the aim of preparing players for the step up from Academy to Under-21 football and their onward journey towards the First Team environment.
Ebbrell said: “We’ve seen several Academy players get a taste of what first team football is all about in recent seasons and it’s always fantastic to see someone like Anthony Gordon really grasp that opportunity and become a regular fixture in the senior side. Our aim as a club and an Academy has always got to be to try to push more players through and prepare them as best we can for that step up to the First Team set-up.
