Futcher named England U20s Head Coach as FA reshuffles roles for 2024
Ben Futcher: Replaces Joe Edwards as U20s Head Coach
Written by Youth Hawk — January 29, 2024
The Football Association have made three new Head Coach appointments in the England youth age groups following a reshuffle initiated by the loss of staff members into club roles.
Ben Futcher has been named as Head Coach of the Elite League Squad, formerly the Under-20s, having performed the role for the November internationals against Italy and Germany.
That followed the departure of interim head coach Joe Edwards, who was contracted until the end of 2023 but was appointed Head Coach of Championship side Millwall in November. Futcher was Edwards' assistant during his time with the U20s.
After an extensive playing career in the lower leagues, Futcher turned his hand to coaching, initially in the club game as assistant coach with Bury, Swindon Town and Mansfield Town. He now holds the UEFA Pro Licence and initially joined the FA as a coach developer before assisting the U18s and U20s.
His first games will take place at St George’s Park in March when the U20s take on Poland and Czech Republic in the UEFA Elite League before friendlies against Sweden and Morocco in June.
Will Antwi takes charge of the U19s following Simon Rusk’s appointment as a specialist set-piece coach at Nottingham Forest, bringing to an end his 18-month spell at the FA. Antwi, who represented Ghana at international level as a player, as well as Crystal Palace and Luton Town, will also continue to lead the U15s, a role he has performed since the summer of 2022.
At the U18 age group, Tom Curtis has been named head coach, continuing his long association with the FA. Curtis, who played over 250 games for Chesterfield in the 1990s, has previously been senior youth coach developer, youth development phase lead and head coach of the U17s. He replaces Ryan Garry, who departs to become Steve Bould’s assistant at Belgian second-tier side Lommel SK.
Lee Carsley, Greg Lincoln and Neil Ryan remain in their head coach positions of the U21s, U17s and U16s respectively.
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ENGLAND AGE GROUP HEAD COACHES
- U21s: Lee Carsley
- U20s: Ben Futcher
- U19s: Will Antwi
- U18s: Tom Curtis
- U17s: Greg Lincoln
- U16s: Neil Ryan
- U15s: Will Antwi
