Ex-Sunderland academy coach joins Championship rivals
The ex-Sunderland academy coach has joined Hull City.
Former Sunderland youth coach Alex Ackerley has joined Championship rivals Hull City.
The 32-year-old previously worked as a youth development coach as part of the Black Cats’ academy, but left last year to take up a role with FIFA working as a talent scout alongside the Lithuanian Football Federation. Ackerley started his career in professional football with Burton Albion, having managed Loughborough University’s men’s first team prior to his move to the Pirelli Stadium. He joined Sunderland in 2021, coaching a variety of different age groups in the club’s developmental system before leaving his role three years later.
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His new post will see him take over from Matt Hare as Hull’s Head of Academy Coaching. Speaking upon his arrival at the MKM Stadium, Ackerley said: “I am very happy to be here. There’s a lot of good stuff going on already at the club, so it is a great opportunity for me. It’s clear Richard Naylor has a strong handle on the direction of the academy, and the staff here are all pulling in the same direction. That makes it a lot easier to come in and hopefully make a positive impact.
“You can watch the age groups all the way through, and there are good players in every age group, which again is testament to the work that has already gone on. Whether that is through recruitment, coaching, or support staff, there are good players at the football club.
“The first challenge for me is to encourage that there is a coherent and consistent pathway for the players. We want all players from Under-9s all the way to Under-21s to know that there is a pathway, and having spoken to the coaching staff already, there are lots of good pieces in place to do that. It is about building on that real clarity on what we do, how we do it, and why we do it.”