Mark Robson has returned to West Ham United as the Academy of Football's Senior PDP Coach/U23s Lead Coach.
The former Hammers midfielder joins from Championship side Peterborough United, where he had served as assistant manager since August 2020, and will replace Dmitri Halajko, who is departing to take up a youth and coaching development role at the Premier League.
Prior to his spell at the Posh, Robson spent over four years at the Football Association as a National Specialist Coach, working closely with the best young English players to progress through the national team pathway into Gareth Southgate's senior squad.
Robson said of his appointment: “I'm really pleased to be joining the Academy and really pleased to be back at West Ham United, my local team.
“I've been a supporter all my life, watching from the terraces and playing for the Club, so to have the chance to come back and be a part of the process helping our younger players on the pathway to the first team is fantastic. I'm really looking forward to the new challenge.
“The Club at this moment in time is flying. The first team are doing fantastically well and so are the U23s in Premier League 2, so to be coming back at this moment in time, I'm buzzing and can't wait to get going."
Academy Manager Ricky Martin added to the club's website: “I'm absolutely delighted to welcome Mark back to West Ham United.
“We went through a diligent recruitment process, with some really good applicants applying for the role. Mark's connection with the Club and his vast experience, not only having a successful career as a player but also as a coach in both youth and first-team environments, as well his work with the FA in a really successful period for their youth sides, made him the standout candidate.
“Personally, I would like to thank Dmitri for his hard work. He has been a fantastic ally for me in my role as Academy Manager – he was my first appointment, and someone I've worked very closely with for the last two-and-a-half years.
“Not only has he been a great servant, coach and ambassador for West Ham, he leaves the Academy in a fantastic position, with the U23s squad playing some exciting, attacking, 'West Ham Way' football, and we wish him well in his new adventures with the Premier League.
“Now, we're really looking forward to welcoming Mark back as our U23s Lead Coach and working with him to continue our journey of developing our young players and building the Academy of Football."
