Academy goalkeeping head leaves United

Friday 10 June 2022 17:30

Manchester United can confirm that Alan Fettis, Head of Academy Goalkeeping, has left his role to take up a new position as first-team goalkeeper coach at a Championship club.

Fettis joined United in 2011 as Academy goalkeeper coach. He worked his way up the age groups, coaching the Under-18s and latterly the Under-23s, whilst undertaking his role as Head of Academy Goalkeeping in 2018.

The role included overseeing the recruitment of young ‘keepers and the management of the players whilst out on loan.

The Academy has produced a number of talented international goalkeepers during Fettis’s time at the club, including Dean Henderson, Sam Johnstone, Pierluigi Gollini and Kieran O’Hara.

Fettis also worked closely with internationals in other age groups, such as Joel Pereira, Dermot Mee and most recently the Czech duo, Matej Kovar and Radek Vitek.

Alan Fettis (left) celebrates United's 2022 FA Youth Cup triumph with U18s goalkeeping coach Kevin Wolfe.

He regularly stepped up to support the first team when needed, working with a world-class selection of ‘keepers such as Edwin van der Sar, Victor Valdes and David De Gea.

Fettis’s time at the club came full circle when the Under-18s won the FA Youth cup in May, as the coach was working with the 2011 squad that won the same competition in his first season.

He now departs United to fulfil his ambition of coaching within a first-team environment, beginning at a Championship club next month. A successor for Alan will be announced in due course.

Nick Cox, Head of Academy, said: “We are pleased that Alan will fulfil his ambition of coaching senior goalkeepers full-time.

“He has played an important role in the development of a number of talented goalkeepers in our Academy.

“We take great pride in the pathway for coach progression within our system and this is another good example of the environment that we have created.

“The whole of the Academy thanks Alan for his service throughout his eleven years at the club and wishes him the very best of luck in his new role.”

Recommended: