Ampadu join Arsenal's academy

Arsenal Football Club is delighted to confirm that Pat Holland will be the Club’s new under-18s coach.

Pat, who joins the Club’s youth development set-up following Steve Bould’s promotion to first-team assistant manager, is joined at the academy by new youth development coach Kwame Ampadu.


The Club is also pleased to announce that Steve Gatting, an academy coach with the Club since summer 2007, becomes the assistant professional development coach.


Pat joins Arsenal to head up the under-18s after 25 years involvement in player development. Following a successful playing career with West Ham United, where he made 245 appearances, the Poplar-born coach took on roles in the academy and reserve set-ups of Leyton Orient, Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur.


He followed this with spells as manager of Leyton Orient and assistant manager at Millwall, before taking on the role of chief scout, first for the Lions then most recently with MK Dons.

Kwame and Steve’s new development roles represent a restructuring of the Arsenal academy in line with reforms laid out in the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) - which allows for a greater number of contact hours with young players to help foster their football and academic learning.


Kwame made two appearances for Arsenal as a player from 1989 to 1991 before going on to enjoy a 15-year playing career with West Bromwich Albion, Swansea City, Leyton Orient and Exeter City. Kwame, who later returned to Exeter as under-18s coach, now brings his substantial experience to the Arsenal academy.


Steve, also a former Arsenal player with 76 appearances for the Gunners between 1977 and 1981, comes to the new role after five years coaching in the Gunners’ youth set-up.


Everyone at Arsenal wishes Pat, Kwame and Steve the best of luck in their new roles.