Liverpool's Diggle appointed Academy Manager at Leeds United
Martin Diggle: Has worked for Liverpool since July 2019
Written by Simon Austin — February 22, 2024
LIVERPOOL’S Martin Diggle has been appointed as the new Academy Manager at Leeds United.
Diggle has worked for Liverpool for almost five years as their Head of Coach Development, supporting coaches across their Academy. Before joining the Reds in July 2019, he had worked for the Football Association for nine years, latterly as their Head of Professional Game Coach Development.
This involved delivering professional game qualifications and CPD, as well as managing more than 30 technical staff and working with UEFA, the PFA, Premier League, EFL and LMA on coach development. Diggle, who is a UEFA A and Advanced Youth Award coach and tutor, has also coached at Oldham Athletic and Bolton Wanderers.
At Leeds he will take on the role previously held by Adam Underwood, who was promoted to Head of Football Operations in July 2023. Underwood was Academy Manager from 2009 and was at the helm when Leeds were promoted to Category One Academy status in 2020.
The move was part of a restructure following the takeover of the club by 49ers Enterprises. This also saw Gretar Steinsson arrive from Tottenham as Technical Director.
Leeds Academy staff were this week informed of Diggle's appointment and he is due to start work at the club in the middle of next month. There have been a couple of other senior coaching changes within the Academy too.
Scott Gardner, who has been with Leeds since October 2012, has been promoted from Under-18s to U21s Lead, while former England international Stewart Downing has come in as U21s Assistant to the end of the season, when there will be a review of roles. Downing previously coached Middlesbrough's U16s for a year.
Leeds placed eighth in our Academy Productivity Rankings for 2021/22.
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