Academy-produced talent has long been one of Leeds United’s calling cards. Thorp Arch’s factory line has continued to churn out professional footballers, while the recruitment drive for other clubs’ best young talent has taken that youth-centred approach to the next level.
The gatekeeper of those final few stages of development before the first team has an immensely important role at Thorp Arch. United’s under-23 head coach, soon to be under-21 boss, has been the bridge between the academy and the first team.
After years of developing a homegrown talent or hundreds of thousands of pounds have been put into a promising youngster, it is the under-21 coach’s job to polish that diamond and iron out the final few kinks. It is a critical role in ensuring that strategy comes to fruition in the first XI.
