Pen pics of Aston Villa's coaching, science, medicine and analytics staff.

AARON DANKS has been appointed first-team coach at Aston Villa as manager Dean Smith rebuilds his backroom staff following the exit of assistants John Terry and Richard O’Kelly earlier this summer.

ASTON VILLA boss Dean Smith has paid credit to the club’s new set pieces coach, Austin MacPhee, following the 2-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday.

RICHARD O’KELLY has stepped down as Dean Smith’s assistant at Aston Villa just two days before the start of their Premier League campaign.

ASTON VILLA are pressing on with plans to open an Inner City Academy which will provide greater opportunities for kids in working class areas of Birmingham. Is it time for other clubs to follow suit?

ASTON VILLA have opened a new £6m High Performance Centre that takes their sports science, strength and conditioning, rehab and sports therapy to “elite 21st-Century standards”.

ASTON VILLA manager Dean Smith says the club believe in two-way learning, where the coaches gain knowledge from the players as well as vice versa.

ASTON VILLA have again hired a senior member of staff from FC Copenhagen, with Frederik Leth joining the Premier League outfit as Head of Football Research.

ASTON VILLA have submitted plans for a new ‘Inner City Academy’ in Birmingham, which will be targeted at youngsters living close to their Villa Park stadium.

ASTON VILLA have hired Nick Haycock from the Premier League to take up the new role of Head of Technical and Player Development.

CRAIG SHAKESPEARE has been appointed assistant manager by Aston Villa as the club looks to add “Premier League know-how” ahead of the 2020/21 season.

ASTON VILLA have appointed 40-year-old FC Copenhagen Technical Director Johan Lange as their new Sporting Director.

ASTON VILLA have sacked Sporting Director Jesus Garcia Pitarch after less than two years as they look to revamp their football strategy.

AMAN SINGH SHERGILL has left Birmingham City after four and a half years to become Physical Performance Scientist at near rivals Aston Villa.

ASTON VILLA Academy coach Kevin MacDonald has left the club “with immediate effect” following an investigation into allegations of bullying that had been made against him.

ASTON VILLA Under-18 coach David Hughes is leaving the club to become Southampton’s first Head of Academy Player Development.

WEST BROM Academy Manager Mark Harrison has left the club to take up the same role at near neighbours Aston Villa.

INJURY specialist John Hartley found an unused Biodex machine in a storage room when he arrived at Aston Villa. Now he uses it every day and says it has "massive value".

THE FA laid down exactly what it means to be an England international in 2014 - and many clubs are now following suit.