Garner joins Southampton as Eckert confirms backroom staff
Written by
Simon Austin
January 4, 2026
Former Bristol Rovers and Charlton Head Coach Ben Garner has joined Tonda Eckert’s newly-formed backroom staff at Southampton.
The 45-year-old started his coaching career at Crystal Palace in 2004, working his way up through the age groups at Selhurst Park before becoming First Team Coach in 2012.
After more than a decade with the Eagles, he was Assistant at West Brom (2015 to 2018) and at Indian outfit ATK (2018/19). A move into management followed, with Bristol Rovers (2019/20), Swindon Town (2021/22), Charlton (2022) and Colchester United (2023).
For the last 20 months he has been Head Coach of Right to Dream’s International Academy.
Garner joins Assistants Jeremy Newton and Ben Reeves, Goalkeeper Coach Ryan Flood and Analyst Albert Jones on Eckert’s coaching staff. The quartet all previously worked with the German with Southampton’s Under-21s.
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