Dennis Bergkamp tipped to become head of Arsenal youth academy

• Arsenal want household name to replace Liam Brady
• Bergkamp currently assistant to Ajax manager Frank de Boer

by David Hytner 3 months ago

Dennis Bergkamp is a leading candidate to succeed Liam Brady as the head of Arsenal's youth academy. The club have announced that Brady will step down from his current post before the end of May 2014 to take a different role within the organisation but he will assist in the search for his replacement and the hand-over process.

Bergkamp, who enjoyed 11 successful seasons at Arsenal as a player, is now working as the assistant to the Ajax manager, Frank de Boer, with a connection to the Dutch club's youth development programme. Arsenal will seek a household name to take over from Brady, whose reputation will help them to attract the top youth players, and Bergkamp will come under consideration. The sooner Arsenal make the appointment, the quicker Brady will step aside.

The 56-year-old Brady, an Arsenal playing legend, was appointed to oversee the club's academy in 1996 and he has helped to develop current first-team players such as Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs.

"Liam has a deep understanding of what it takes to discover and develop a talented youngster into someone who can perform at the highest level," said the club's chief executive, Ivan Gazidis.

"He has made a massive contribution to Arsenal. It will be difficult to find a worthy successor but we will be looking for someone who can build on what Liam and his team have created."