West Ham United is delighted to confirm the appointment of Kenny Brown as Academy Manager.
Brown takes the role on a permanent basis after serving as interim Academy Manager since November.
The former Hammers defender initially returned to the Club in January 2022 to take up the role of Assistant Head of Coaching (U9s to U14s) and is excited about the new challenge ahead.
“Being named Academy Manager is a special moment,” Brown told whufc.com. “When I had the conversation with Mark (Noble) and he told me the decision had been made to offer the role to me permanently, I felt immense pride and I’m very honoured to take up this position with the Club.
“For me, this is the ultimate job in football. This is where my passion is. To be the Academy Manager of West Ham means everything to me.
“I know how important this job is. It’s been interesting and enjoyable doing the job in the past few weeks. It has, of course, been challenging, but I think the way I’ve approached it has been completely open.
“I have a certain way that I like to work and the feedback I’ve had so far has been very positive, and I think that has shown with the environment we’re cultivating at the Academy.”
Sporting Director Mark Noble was pleased to confirm Brown’s appointment and is looking forward to continuing to working with him at the Academy of Football.
“I am delighted to confirm Kenny’s appointment to the role of Academy Manager,” Noble said. “Spending so much time at Chadwell Heath each week, I can see the respect the coaches, staff and players have for Kenny.
“He has always been brilliant with the boys, great with the parents, and I knew straight away that he was the right person for this job.
“Kenny has also got history with West Ham, which I love. It’s so important to have people who know and understand the Club’s ethos and values in these roles, and I hope, with my support, Kenny can excel in this role and continue help develop and grow the Academy of Football."
UEFA Pro Licence holder Brown, who spent six years as Academy Head of Coaching at Millwall before coming back to the Academy of Football at Chadwell Heath, played 82 games for West Ham across a five-year playing career in the early 1990s.
Brown holds an even longer association with the Club, as the son of Hammers great Ken Brown Sr, an FA Cup winner in 1964 and European Cup Winners’ Cup winner in 1965.
Brown also possesses extensive coaching experience with the likes of Dagenham & Redbridge, Barnet and Chelmsford City, and is eager to use his experiences to aid the long-term development of young players at Chadwell Heath.
The success of the Academy of Football has grabbed headlines throughout the season with four players - Divin Mubama, Ollie Scarles, Kaelan Casey and Kamarai Swyer - making their senior debuts for the Club during the UEFA Europa Conference League Group B win away to FCSB, on an evening with multiple Academy graduates involved in the squad.
The Academy's commitment to developing and nurturing young players has also seen four Scholars rewarded for their progression with their first professional contracts. Scarles, Callum Marshall, Gideon Kodua and Lewis Orford have each signed professional terms with the Club after consistent, sterling performances in the senior Academy teams.
All four were involved as the U18s secured a first FA Youth Cup semi-final spot since 1999 on Wednesday. Kevin Keen's young side beat Ipswich Town 4-2 after extra time at Portman Road, on an evening where 663 West Ham fans gave their young charges vocal backing among a vociferous 3,721-strong crowd.
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Kenny on his permanent appointment and wish him every success in the role.