George Boateng is excited to help the next generation break into the Aston Villa first team after joining the Under-23s coaching set-up.
After a year spent with the club’s Under-18s, Boateng will work alongside Mark Delaney as Professional Development Coach.
Ahead of the start of the Young Lions’ Premier League 2 season on Monday, VillaTV caught up with the former Villa midfielder to discuss his new position.
“The role is fantastic,” he said.
“For me, I’m now making a step-up to working with players who are close to the first team, closer than the Under-18s.
“We are at the top end of the Academy, where players have to make the transition from being a youth player to a senior player. I want to help get them a career in the game.”
Between them, Boateng and Delaney made 317 appearances for Villa and they both know what it takes to carve out successful playing careers at the club.
Boateng believes this gives the pair an advantage when it comes to producing players who can make an impact for the first team.
He said: “Mark is a tremendous guy who works extremely hard and deservedly leads the Under-23s. Mark and I go way back, and we’re aligned in the coaching and what our philosophy is.
“We both know the requirements and what the boys have to do each and every day to try and get into the first team here.
“There are things you need to know as a coach but there are also things you know from a playing point of view that you have to try and get across to the boys.
“If you’ve played at that level, it makes it easier to understand what the requirements are. The second phase is can you get that message across to the players.”
The Under-23s kick-off their PL2 season against West Bromwich Albion on Monday. Lookout for updates and a report on the club’s channels when the game starts at 1pm.
