West Ham have announced the appointment of former Leicester City Head of Player Development for the Foxes under 23s, Dmitri Halajko, as Academy Under-23 Lead Coach.
The Hammers new man has more than 20 years’ experience in junior player development and coaching and will , work alongside Steve Potts in guiding the young professionals and established Academy scholars aiming to make the step up to Manuel Pellegrini’s first-team squad.
Academy Manager Ricky Martin said: “I am really pleased that Dmitri has agreed to join us and it is a real coup to have appointed someone of his experience and ability.
“I have seen at first hand his quality and talent as a coach, both in sessions on the training pitch and working with players individually on their development programmes.
“He has fantastic experience at Academy level and a proven record of progressing elite players through to first team level. His style and approach will fit in perfectly to the West Ham way that we encourage and nurture here at Chadwell Heath.
“The appointments of Dmitri and Kevin Keen, to work alongside Steve Potts and Mark Phillips, completes the structure of our senior coaching team for the Under-23 and Under-18 groups, and everyone is really looking forward to starting work together when the players return for pre-season training.”
