Aston Villa staff profiles
Pen pics of Aston Villa's coaching, science, medicine and analytics staff. To see staff profiles for other clubs, click here.
FOOTBALL EXECUTIVES
SPORTING DIRECTOR
Johan Lange
Nationality: Danish
Appointed in July 2020, replacing Spaniard Jesus Garcia Pitarch. Had been Technical Director at FC Copenhagen since 2014, during which time they won three league titles and gained a formidable reputation for developing young talent.
HEAD OF FOOTBALL RESEARCH
Frederik Leth
Nationality: Danish
Joined from FC Copenhagen in February 2021, having been Lange's short-lived replacement there as Technical Director. Responsible for ensuring an evidence-based approach across the club.
COACHING STAFF
HEAD COACH
Dean Smith
Nationality: English
Lifelong Villa fan who was born in West Bromwich. Played more than 500 senior games for clubs including Sheffield Wednesday. Made his name in management at Walsall, where he had initially started as Head of Youth, and bolstered in at Brentford, who punched above their weight and played some of the mot attractive football in the Championship. Appointed by Villa in October 2018 and led them back to the promised land of the Premier League via the play-offs.
ASSISTANT
Richard O'Kelly
Nationality: English
Like Smith, born in West Bromwich, and the duo have a long-standing partnership. O'Kelly was Smith's assistant at Walsall (during two separate spells) and also at Brentford and now Villa. Smith says it's often O'Kelly who tells players if they have not been included in the team, leading to the nickname 'axeman'.
ASSISTANT
John Terry
Nationality: English
Legendary player for club and country. Made 492 appearances for Chelsea, winning five league titles, five FA Cups, the Champions League and Europa League. Awarded 78 cap by England. Named assistant of Villa in October 2018 - his first job in coaching.
ASSISTANT
Craig Shakespeare
Nationality: English
Briefly played alongside Smith at Walsall and reunited with him in August 2020 as Villa's manager said he was keen to add "more Premier League experience" to his staff. Was Leicester manager for four-and-a-half months in 2017 and has been an assistant at West Brom, Hull, Everton, England and Watford.
GOALKEEPER COACH
Neil Cutler
Nationality: English
Another Midlander, having been born in Wolverhampton. Played for Villa (as cover for David James) during a 15-year playing career. Recruited from nearby West Brom in November 2018. Had worked with Smith and O'Kelly at Walsall.
PERFORMANCE AND MEDICAL
PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR
Jeremy Oliver
Nationality: Australian
Bit of a mystery man. You won't find him on social media and there are no public interviews with him, nor any photos. Even Villa's staff were left drawing blanks when they tried to research him after his arrival. Was appointed at the end of last season and oversees the whole medical/ performance department. Had previously worked in his homeland of Australia.
HEAD OF SPORT MEDICINE AND SCIENCE
Ricky Shamji
Nationality: English
Moved into football in 2008, having previously worked as a GP. Joined Villa in 2015.
LEAD SPORTS SCIENTIST
Jack Sharkey
Nationality: English
Hired in July 2017 from QPR. Has also worked at Burton Albion, as Head of Sports Science.
PHYSIO
Steve Polley
Nationality: English
Promoted from the Academy following the departure of John Hartley to Derby County in December 2020.
PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE SCIENTIST
Aman Singh Shergill
Nationality: English
Appointed in November 2019 following four and a half years at near rivals Birmingham City. Works alongside Sharkey and gathers/ analyses performance data.
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH
Oli Stevenson
Nationality: English
Youth player at Villa before taking a sports science degree at Loughborough University and taking a different path. Started as an S&C with the Academy before being promoted to the first team.
LEAD PHYSIO
Alan Smith
Nationality: English
Club stalwart who joined in July 2000.
PHYSIO
Rob Marshall
Nationality: New Zealand
Worked for Hearts and Sheffield Wednesday before joining Villa in 2015.
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
Patrick Moore
Nationality: English
Joined the club in January 2019 from Brentford, where he had worked for three-and-a-half years.
HEAD OF NUTRITION
Marcus Hannon
Nationality: English
Performance nutritionist with Everton's Academy, for three years, and with Northampton Saints rugby, before joining Villa in January 2020.
ANALYSTS
HEAD OF PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS
David Stewart
Nationality: English
Joined from QPR in 2016.
PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Scott Adey-Linforth
Nationality: English
Was the first analyst to work with Villa Ladies. Promoted to Academy and then first team.
PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Joseph Ure
Nationality: English
Hired from Tottenham in April 2019.
OPERATIONS
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Matt Bennett
Nationality: English
Arrived at the club in October 2019 from Minnesota United. Responsible for all first-team operations, including team travel and player logistics.
