Charlton Athletic are delighted to announce the appointment of Jon De Souza as Men’s First-Team Development Coach.
The role will mean De Souza is focussed on developing players on an individual basis. It includes working with first-team players to help them add to their game and also working with academy players to help prepare them for first-team football.
De Souza has 17 years of experience in football having worked previously with Luton Town, Brentford and most recently Colchester United.
He said: “Charlton has an excellent tradition of producing players and then those players doing well for the first team, it is a tradition I want to help add to. The ownership’s plans for the club to get promoted to the Championship and further, show that the club is focussed on improving on the quality of our players.
“I’m excited to get onto the grass and do what I am most passionate about, which is working with the players and helping them progress.”
Owner, Thomas Sandgaard, said: “I am really pleased we’ve been able to add Jon to our coaching staff. He has excellent experience and is well-respected in the game. He’ll play a very important role in developing and improving our players, which will be vital in our growth as a club.”
De Souza began working in professional football in 2005 at Luton Town’s academy, where he became their U18s and Reserve Team Manager until 2011, when he joined Brentford to become their U21s Head Coach. At Brentford he worked with current academy coaches Anthony Hayes and Dan Senda and also supported Mark Warburton’s first-team staff when the club were promoted from League One in 2013/14.
He became Academy Manager at Colchester United in 2016 before becoming their Technical and Performance Director in 2019.
In his new role he’ll work closely with players and staff from both the academy and first team.
The Addicks' final home game of the season takes place on Saturday when Charlton host Shrewsbury Town at The Valley. Click here to get your tickets.