Ryan leaves Arsenal after eight years to join Setanta College
Ryan joined Arsenal in February 2013
Written by Training Ground Guru — April 4, 2021
DES RYAN, Arsenal’s Head of Academy Sports Medicine and Athletic Development for the last eight years, is leaving the club to become Director of Coaching and Performance at Setanta College.
Writing on LinkedIn, Ryan said: “Really looking forward to working full time with some great people who I admire and respect in Setanta College. I really enjoyed my time at Arsenal - it's a top club with some very special people and players, particularly the Academy, led by Per Mertesacker.
“I’m really looking forward to moving back to Ireland and seeing family and friends more often.”
Ryan was Head of Strength and Conditioning at Connacht Rugby from 1999 to 2008, before joining Ireland Rugby Union, where he was an S&C coach and fitness education manager. In February 2013, he joined the Gunners, and his work for them drew praise and admiration.
Speaking to TGG in 2018, Darcy Norman, the former Director of Performance at AS Roma, said: “Look at Arsenal’s Academy - Des Ryan and his staff are doing a phenomenal job. He is an ex rugby guy and gets the players lifting and strong. The utopia is to have an athlete who is as strong as possible.”
Setanta College is an online college specialising in the delivery of strength and conditioning studies. They posted: “Des is one of the leading youth coaches and performance managers in sport and a world-renowned practitioner and speaker in the field of youth athletic development.
"In joining Setanta College, Des will help us to continue providing the highest level of education to our students.”
