While West Ham United are riding high in this year’s English Premier League, eagle-eyed New Zealanders have spotted a familiar face in the dugout.
Sitting with manager David Moyes at matches is the Hammers’ first-team coach, Paul Nevin (51), who spent almost a year managing the ill-fated New Zealand Knights in the A-League in 2006.
Nevin joined West Ham last year as part of Moyes’ new backroom staff and the Hammers are currently fifth in the EPL, unlikely challengers for a place in Europe next season and vying with Chelsea for bragging rights as the highest-placed London club.
Nevin, who was appointed manager of the Knights in 2006, was the highest-qualified coach in New Zealand at the time and had moved to Auckland with his wife and two children.
As a player, he had turned out for clubs including Shrewsbury Town, Carlisle United and Yeovil Town as well as four years in the USA.
He began his coaching career with eight years working with junior and youth players at Fulham before he took on the Knights role.
After losing the Knights job in November 2006, he joined the Aspire Academy working with young players and coaches in the Middle East.
He returned to England in 2013 for coaching roles with Norwich City, Brighton & Hove Albion and with the EPL.
In November 2018, he was added to England’s coaching staff by national manager Gareth Southgate, as they reached the finals of the UEFA Nations League.
Image: Paul Nevin (left) with manager David Moyes. Image credit: West Ham United FC.
More information
You can watch a video interview with Paul Nevin, and learn more about him, at the West Ham United website.
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