Written by
Ian Westbrook
September 1, 2025
Fulham have promoted their Under-18s Head Coach Ali Melloul to become the club’s first Set Piece Coach.
The Cottagers advertised the role over the summer, saying they wanted “a UEFA A-Licence holder who will work with the Head Coach and the first-team coaching staff to design set-piece strategies that are consistent with the club’s tactical approach”.
Preparation for free-kicks and corners had been the responsibility of coach Stuart Gray, who retired at the end of May.
Fulham only scored four goals from set pieces in the Premier League last season – the worst record in the division.
Melloul has been involved with Fulham for 17 years, since joining them as a Sports Development Officer in their Foundation in July 2008.
He joined the club as a Pre Academy Coach in 2011 and also had spells as an Academy Coach for the U13s, Youth Development Phase Manager, Professional Development Phase Manager and U18s Coach, before becoming Head Coach for the U18s in July 2021.
Fulham are one of several clubs to appoint a Set Piece Coach over the summer, with others including Brighton, Sunderland and Brentford.
The appointment means only four Premier League clubs do not have a specialist Set Piece Coach at the moment – Everton, Leeds United, West Ham and Wolves.
Set piece coaches in the Premier League:
- Arsenal: Nicolas Jover
- Aston Villa: Austin MacPhee
- Bournemouth: Tommy Elphick (defensive), Shaun Cooper (attacking)
- Brentford: Stephen Rice
- Brighton: Yannick Euvrard
- Burnley: Pal Fjelde
- Chelsea: Bernardo Cueva
- Crystal Palace: Michael Angerschmid & Ronald Brunmayr
- Everton: Vacant
- Fulham: Ali Melloul
- Leeds United: Vacant
- Liverpool: Aaron Briggs
- Manchester City: James French
- Manchester United: Carlos Fernandes
- Newcastle United: Martin Mark
- Nottingham Forest: Axl Rice
- Sunderland: James Brayne
- Tottenham: Andreas Georgson
- West Ham: Vacant
- Wolves: Vacant
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