West Ham United is pleased to confirm that Mark Robson has returned to his position as Academy Under-21s Lead Coach.
Following the arrival of Julen Lopetegui as men’s Head Coach last month, Robson will revert to the role of guiding the development of the Club’s young professionals, having stepped up last September to assist former manager David Moyes with the first team.
A UEFA Pro Licence holder, Upton Park-born Robson is one of the most highly-respected development coaches in English football, having previously spent more than four years at the Football Association as a National Specialist Coach, working closely with the best young players to progress through the national team pathway into Gareth Southgate’s senior squad.
The popular former Hammers winger, who returned to the Club in November 2021, is looking forward to building upon the strong foundations he had already helped to put in place with the Under-21s.
Robson said: “I enjoyed my time with the first team last season, and I was grateful for the opportunity. It gave me a chance to work closely with some top international players and enjoy some new experiences, including the challenge of European club competition.
“However, I am really looking forward to being involved with the Under-21s again. Working with young players is something that I obviously have a lot of experience in, and a great passion for. I love coaching and the challenge of helping players to improve, and I am excited about the prospect of developing players who will be the future of West Ham United.
“The last couple of years has been a really successful period for the Academy, and there are some very talented young players coming through. Nothing gave me greater pleasure last season than seeing George Earthy and Kaelan Casey make their Premier League debuts and we want more of that.
“West Ham is my Club, and I know how much it means to our supporters to see homegrown players coming through the ranks to make an impact at senior level. It is a big part of our identity and heritage, and I am very proud to have that responsibility.”
Robson will work closely with fellow coaches Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville, who led the Under-21s through a successful 2023/24 season that saw them finish second in the Premier League 2 regular season and then reach the PL2 play-off quarter-finals, as well as getting to the semi-finals of the Premier League International Cup and the last 16 of the EFL Trophy.
Sporting Director Mark Noble said: “We are delighted that Mark will be returning to lead the Under-21 squad. His record in coaching and developing young players speaks for itself. He also has a great knowledge and understanding of the Club, and the importance we place on our Academy.
“I would like to place on record our thanks to Steve Potts and Gerard Prenderville, who did a fantastic job in taking over the reins when Mark stepped up to assist the first team, and have provided vital continuity and consistency for the Under-21 group.
“As we head into an exciting new era for West Ham United, with both Steve and Gerard supporting Mark, we have a fantastic coaching unit at Under-21 level that will play a key role in ensuring our young players have the best possible pathway to develop and prepare for senior football.”
