Jack Collison’s journey into coaching began long before his days as a player finally concluded.
With injuries hampering the Welsh international throughout his playing days, Collison began making inroads into his own managerial career at just 26 as he stepped into a development job with Peterborough United.
Named the Posh’s U21s boss in 2015, Collison switched to the U18s upon his retirement a year later.
In 2017, the former Hammer returned to the Academy of Football and took up a role as U16s manager. He would move into the U18s role a year later before making a huge switch – both professionally and personally – to Atlanta, Georgia in the United States in 2019.
Three years on, Collison is now manager of the Atlanta United second team.
“Everything is going good out here,” he said. “Time has just gone so quickly. I’ve enjoyed making that transition from the Academy coach role to the second team role. We play in the second league out here now and that’s been a real challenge.
“We’re building a young squad and we’re going into the games with a young team in a highly competitive league. A lot of the teams are built to win, but it’s an enjoyable challenge and it’s one I’ve really embraced.
“Despite some tricky results, it’s been really pleasing in a lot of ways this year. Some of the boys have made some good individual progress and they’re starting to get in and around the first team, which is what it’s all about for me.”
ADAPTING TO AMERICA
Collison was ready for a new challenge when the opportunity to move to Georgia, in the south-eastern region of the United States, came about. It would be a massive change of pace for the man born in Watford, who spent most of his career in and around London.
“Part of the appeal for me coming over here was jumping into something completely different. It’s certainly giving me that in both a football sense and a life sense,” he continued.
“You can see the local people have taken to the team and they’re really proud of what the club has achieved over the last five or six years. It’s great to be involved in that and helping the club evolve and get bigger.
“I was very impressed with the level when I first came over here. I wasn’t totally sure what it was going to be like, but the quality is really high. With the country being so big too, there is such a massive pool of talented, young players. If you look at the USA National Team now, there are good players coming through who are global superstars, playing in the Champions League or on an equivalent level.
“The game out here is growing at an incredible rate and, with the World Cup coming out here in 2026, I think we’re going to see that trend continue.”
Football may be considered a global language but there have been new obstacles to navigate for Collison. Coming from an environment where the sole focus was the dream of being a footballer, the 34-year-old now has to take into consideration other hopes his players may have.
“I think the kids’ mentality towards football is slightly different over here. If you speak to any kid over in England, they’ll tell you they want to be a professional footballer. Over here, there’s so many options and choices.
“Even within our Academy at Atlanta, a lot of them had the big goal of getting a top university scholarship rather than jumping in at the deep end to become a professional footballer. You obviously have to navigate that.
“Then there are different regulations and squad rules here. The MLS is a different beast and one I’ve had fun trying to navigate.”
SHARING WISDOM
Collison was fortunate enough to work with some big names in coaching during his playing. Across West Ham, AFC Bournemouth, Ipswich Town, Peterborough United and the Wales national side, the midfielder had plenty of managers from whom to borrow management tips.
“I’ve heard it said before that football coaches are the greatest thieves!” Collison laughed. “You see something you like and you take it and try to put your own spin on it. I’ve been very fortunate to work with some incredible coaches.
“In the last couple of years in my playing career, I tried to take more of interest in not just what we were doing on the training pitches but why we were doing it. I picked up a few gems that I still use to this day
“I have to mention Gianfranco Zola from my time with West Ham. He’s probably one of the greatest men I’ve ever met. He was so genuine and humble and, for me, the biggest thing was he’d take time to work with me after training and do extras.
“It doesn’t happen often when the main coach is taking an interest in a 17-year-old trying to break into his team. But when I did break through, it had got to a point where I would have run through a brick wall for him.
“Sam Allardyce was an amazing character. His attention to detail was incredible. You would know exactly what was expected of you, your role and your responsibility. That’s something I’ve taken from him as well.
“Kevin Keen was someone who also really stood out for me. He was an unbelievable coach when I was a young player and he is someone who I still, to this day, pester every now and then for a little bit of advice when I need it. For the U18s to have someone like Kev to learn from is absolutely incredible.”
When it comes to playing for Collison’s Atlanta side, he looks for the same attributes that were expected of him as a youngster in the Academy of Football.
Quality and technical ability are important, there is no denying that. But just as essential is the drive to work hard and willingness to go the extra mile.
“As a player, I got the chance to work with Tony Carr and he really just drove that work ethic into me,” Collison explained. “He had us out on the training pitches for hours and hours on end and it installed a grit and toughness in all of his teams. That had a really big effect on all of the players he brought through.
“As a coach now, I want to see all my players have that heart, that work ethic and that desire to improve. They need to have that willingness to do the extra work, out on the pitches and in the gym, and that’s something I took from Tony and the Academy.
“I try to put that into the lads I work with now. I think if you have that then you’re only going to get better and give yourself a better chance of reaching the top level.”
WEST HAM THROUGH AND THROUGH
Collison may be over 4,000 miles away from London Stadium and his former Club but his mind is never too far from how West Ham, the Academy teams and his old friends are doing.
As a former U18s coach, the ex-midfielder stays in close contact with old colleagues and is kept updated on how things are developing over at Chadwell Heath.
“The Academy of Football isn’t just known for bringing through players, it has also given so many coaches an opportunity as well. There is a big pool of unbelievable coaches at West Ham.
“The U18s are flying at the moment and I’m always checking in on how they’re doing. I like knowing how Mark Phillips, Gerard Prenderville and the lads are getting on. It’s also so great to see my mate Billy Lepine doing such a good job with the U21s as well.
“Billy is a great example of someone who understands the Club’s DNA. He is born and bred West Ham and I think that desire to do well for the Club rubs off on the boys. It’s in his blood and in his bones and to have these sort of characters at the training ground, to help the young lads really understand what West Ham is all about, is just massive.”
Atlanta United 2’s 2022 USL Championship came to an end last month away to Phoenix Rising FC. With the season completed, Collison is now reflecting on another year with the side.
Long-term though, the dream persists in his mind for a return to east London.
“Our season here has just concluded and I’m now sitting down and reviewing how things have gone. I’m taking a look at where things have gone well and where things might need improving on, both for myself and for the team as a whole.
“Long term, I’ve never made any secret of my desire to one day come back and manage West Ham United one day. If that’s going to happen, I need to keep my head down, keep working hard and make sure I’m ready should that day ever come.”
