Former Premier League ace secures new championship role

Oxford-born coach Matty Taylor has linked up with Norwich City’s academy on a short-term deal running until the end of the season. The 44-year-old, who previously managed Shrewsbury Town and Walsall, will support the club’s Under-18s alongside Greg Crane and Adem Atey for the remainder of the campaign.

A former Premier League player, Taylor began his career locally with Abingdon United in the Hellenic League Premier Division and earned two caps for England at Under-21 level.

His switch to Norwich sees him reconnect with the club’s head of football development, Dean Rastrick, having worked together when Taylor led the Under-18s at Tottenham Hotspur before moving into senior management at Walsall.

Following the end of his playing career in 2019, Taylor also held academy roles at Luton Town and West Ham United. In addition to managing Shrewsbury, he has taken charge of non-league sides Wealdstone and Solihull Moors. He now arrives at Colney bringing significant lower-league managerial experience that should benefit Norwich’s emerging talents.

During his playing days, Taylor made over 320 Premier League appearances for Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers, West Ham and Burnley. While at Tottenham, he worked closely with prospects such as Dane Scarlett and was part of the wider coaching structure under Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho and Ryan Mason.

Reflecting on his time at Spurs in a 2022 interview with The Coaches’ Voice, Taylor spoke about the upheaval during his first year, when Pochettino departed and Mourinho took charge. He praised Mourinho’s engagement with academy staff, noting his detailed feedback on young players training with the first team and his openness in allowing academy coaches to observe senior sessions.

Taylor also highlighted the strong connection between Tottenham’s academy and first team, crediting Mourinho for maintaining that pathway and handing several youngsters their debuts.

He described working closely with Ryan Mason as a major influence on his development, learning not only about coaching but also how to guide players toward the demands of different levels and age groups within the professional game.