And who knew
“The most important thing from our point of view is that
Glyn[Hodges] has been such an influential figure in the development of QPR’s Academy in gaining Category 2 status."
Stoke Official Site
Hodges' Key Role
Glyn Hodges
2nd July 2013
Former Welsh international becomes Under-21 coach
He is a vastly experienced coach with an outstanding reputation"
Dave Wright
STOKE CITY have today confirmed the appointment of Glyn Hodges to a key position within their Academy set-up.
Hodges will be responsible for running the Club’s Elite Development Squad at Under-21 level and brings considerable experience of operating under the recently-introduced Elite Player Performance Plan to the role.
The former Welsh international midfielder has moved to the Britannia Stadium from Queens Park Rangers where he had been responsible for helping the Club achieve EPPP Category 2 status as their Head of Coaching.
While he will focus on the development of the Club’s young players within the Academy set-up, Hodges also benefits from the fact that he has worked alongside manager Mark Hughes and other members of his backroom team in previous roles with Wales, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham and QPR.
Academy Manager Dave Wright commented: “The most important thing from our point of view is that Glyn has been such an influential figure in the development of QPR’s Academy in gaining Category 2 status.
“He is a vastly experienced coach with an outstanding reputation, so I am sure he will be an excellent addition to our team.
“The development of home grown talent can only be helped by the Academy and first team squad working closely together. So the fact that Glyn has considerable experience of operating alongside Mark Hughes, Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki at other clubs can only help us in working towards that goal in the future.”
As a player, Hodges launched his career with Wimbledon and clocked up more than 200 appearances for the London club under the management of Dave Bassett.
After a brief spell with Newcastle, he linked-up again with Bassett at Watford and the pair were also reunited at Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest.
Hodges also played in Finland and Hong Kong and won 18 Welsh caps before taking the plunge into the world of coaching as part of Bassett’s backroom team at Barnsley.
He had two spells as caretaker manager of the South Yorkshire club before linking-up with Hughes for the first time in 2004 as coach of the Wales Under-21 side.
Hodges was reserve team coach under Hughes at Blackburn and Manchester City, and after a spell on the coaching team at Leeds, joined him at Fulham, where he operated as first team coach. He joined QPR as their Head of Coaching in July of last year.
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