Arsenal is re-organising its youth coaching set-up following the appointment of Andries Jonker as the new manager of the club’s academy.
From July 1, existing under-18s coach Carl Laraman will join Steve Gatting to work with the club’s under-21 players. This follows Terry Burton’s decision to leave Arsenal this summer. The under-18s will be managed by new arrival Frans de Kat and former Arsenal player and current under-16 coach Kwame Ampadu. The under-16s will be under the leadership of Jan van Loon.
Dutchmen Frans de Kat and Jan van Loon will join Arsenal in the summer, bringing with them a wealth of experience from previous roles at leading clubs and the national association in Dutch football.
Frans de Kat has vast coaching experience with the KNVB, (Royal Dutch Football Association) where he was a coach at both under-15 and under-16 levels. He has also held positions at Dutch clubs Willem II Tilburg, as head of scouting, and ADO Den Haag, as head of youth academy.
Jan van Loon joins Arsenal from the KNVB where he is currently a coach for his country’s national youth teams. He is a vastly experienced youth coach and, as well as representing the KNVB, has worked at Dutch clubs Willem II Tilburg and PSV Eindhoven.
De Kat and Van Loon will officially start their new roles with Arsenal at the same time as Jonker on July 1.
We welcome both Frans and Jan to Arsenal Football Club and wish them every success in their new roles. We also look forward to the continued important contributions of Steve, Carl and Kwame to our youth academy. At the same time, we would like to thank Terry Burton for his contribution to the club during his role as head of youth coaching.
Finally some change in the youth set-up. Far too many English coaches who don't have a clue about player development. No idea of the new coaches but at least there is some change.
