Kevin Nicholson’s appointment as Coach Educator at Everton’s Academy was an independent move to David Unsworth’s departure. On Tuesday, the club revealed long-serving Unsworth was set to leave his position as their Academy Director and Under-23s manager to pursue his ambition of becoming a first team manager while Nicholson announced he would be joining the Blues on April 19.
Nicholson said: “Privileged to have been given the opportunity to work with the club I have supported all my life. The role will involve taking on responsibility for leading the Coach Development programme. A key aspect will be working closely with the coaches to ensure that the club’s identity and coaching philosophy is aligned an embedded across all age groups within the Academy.
“The aims will include helping to create support programmes that can enable the club’s Academy coaches and young players to fulfil their potential. I am greatly looking forward to helping to continue the great tradition that the club has for developing young players and shaping a successful future for Everton Football Club.”
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The ECHO understands that Nicholson, who is a significant part of the club’s strategic football review, was always being brought in by new Director of Football Kevin Thelwell, regardless of Unsworth’s status.
John Ebbrell will take charge of the U23s team for the remainder of the current season but Unsworth’s two titles are expected to be retained as separate roles given the demanding nature of both positions.
Boyhood Evertonian Nicholson, who watched the Blues side containing Unsworth defeat Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley in the 1995 FA Cup final, was a junior player at Derby County and started coaching as a teenager after being let go by the Rams a few weeks before his GCSEs.
He was the youngest-ever Englishman to hold the UEFA Pro Licence having qualified aged 29 and as well as a spell as a Global Senior Football Consultant that saw him implement changes at clubs in Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Brazil, USA, Ukbekistan, Japan, Hong Kong and Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin, he also had a spell as first team manager at Bangor City – steering them to Europa League qualification after finishing runners-up in the Welsh Premier League in 2017/18 – and has worked with Cardiff City’s senior side and development teams at Derby County and Exeter City.
