Written by
Training Ground Guru
February 26, 2025
Brentford’s Justin Cochrane has been confirmed as the final addition to Thomas Tuchel’s England staff.
The 43-year-old, who has been First Team Coach for the Bees since July 2022, will continue to work for Brentford while taking on his additional duties with England.
Cochrane, who was our guest on Episode #45 of the TGG Podcast, and presented at our 2022 Individual Development Webinar, said: “It’s an honour to be asked to work for the senior men’s national team.
“This is a really exciting opportunity for me and I’m extremely grateful to Brentford for allowing me to take on this role. I’m looking forward to working with the players, meeting the staff and stepping out at Wembley.
“Most of all, I’m looking forward to helping this very talented group achieve its goals.”
Brentford Director of Football Phil Giles added: “Justin has been doing a fantastic job for us over the last two-and-a-half years, and so this recognition of his coaching talent is very well merited.
“I’m sure he will make a positive contribution with the national team, and obviously we all hope that England can go deep into the tournament in 2026.
“The exposure to different coaches, players and opponents will no doubt also be positive for Justin’s ongoing development as a coach, as we envisage him being here with us for many more years to come.”
Cochrane joins Assistant Anthony Barry, Goalkeeper Coach Henrique Hilário, Performance Coach Nicolas Mayer and Lead Analyst James Melbourne on Tuchel’s staff.
‘Best developer in the country’
Following a 13-year playing career, Cochrane took his first steps into elite-level coaching when he joined Tottenham’s Academy set-up in 2009. This is where he first worked with John McDermott, who was Tottenham’s Head of Coach and Player Development at the time and is now the FA’s Technical Director.
After Tottenham, Cochrane spent three years with the FA as Head Coach of the U15s to U17s. Following a short stint with AFC Wimbledon’s first-team coaching staff, the UEFA Pro Licence coach became Head of Player Development and Coaching at Manchester United prior to joining Brentford’s first-team coaching staff.
Speaking on the TGG Podcast in 2021, former QPR Technical Director and Tottenham Head of Player Development Chris Ramsey described Cochrane as “outstanding” and perhaps “the best developer in the country.”
Ramsey added: “His personality is big and empathetic and he feels what the players are feeling. His game understanding of what is required is outstanding. He has a fantastic job now, but he should easily be a manager of a club.
“He’s got all the qualities, has coached top level players with the FA.”
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