Micciche joins Everton in new role of Player Development Lead Coach
Dan Micciche: Latest appointment at Everton's Academy
Written by Simon Austin — February 8, 2023
FORMER MK Dons manager Dan Micciche has been appointed to the new role of Player Development Lead Coach by Everton.
The 43-year-old, who left his job as assistant manager at Crawley Town in October, will work with Everton’s Professional Development Phase (17 to 21) players and have three main responsibilities:
- Aiding the transition of players from the Academy to first team.
- Working with players who are out on loan.
- Doing individual development work with players.
Micciche, who appeared on Episode #21 of the TGG Podcast in December 2020, is a hugely experienced coach and will further bolster an Academy that has undergone significant change in the last year.
His full-time coaching career began at Tottenham’s Academy and progressed to MK Dons, where he became Head of Coaching and played a key role in the development of a young Dele Alli (who is now an Everton player, on loan at Besiktas).
From 2013 to 2017, Micciche worked with the Football Association and was Head Coach of England’s Under-15s and U16s. After that he had a short spell as manager of League One MK Dons and then four years at Arsenal, where he led their U15s, U16s and U18s and was 17s to 23s Phase Lead.
Micciche's last full-time role was as assistant to Kevin Betsy at League Two Crawley Town, before the duo were sacked in October, despite having put Premier League Fulham out of the EFL Cup.
Sporting Director Thelwell has overseen a revamp of the Academy since arriving at Everton last March. Gareth Prosser was appointed as Academy Manager in June 2022, replacing the long-serving David Unsworth.
In September, Carl Darlington arrived from the Football Association of Wales as Head of Coaching and James Vaughan from Tranmere Rovers as Loans Pathway Manager. Paul Tait was put in charge of the U21s and Leighton Baines the U18s.
From July to October last year, John Ebbrell was Everton's Player Development Senior Coach - with a remit of focusing "on the individual development of players" - but left to become David Unsworth's assistant at Oldham Athletic.
Micciche has some prior knowledge of the city he is now moving to, having studied for a Masters in Football at the University of Liverpool at the start of his coaching career.
