Club legend Mark Noble to return to West Ham United as Sporting Director..

2022-09-23 11:07

Club legend Mark Noble to return to West Ham United as Sporting Director..



Legendary club captain Mark Noble will return to the club as sporting director, West Ham announced on its official website on Thursday.


According to an official statement from West Ham United, Noble will officially assume the role on January 2, 2023. This is also the first time since the club was founded that it has focused on establishing such positions to help assist the coaching team and scouting department.


Regarding returning to meet the fans with a different role this time, Noble, who was interviewed again by the official website of West Ham United, said: "In football, people will always have difficult times, but together with my colleagues in the club, I will continue to put the best interests of West Ham as priority. We have made extraordinary progress over the past two seasons and I want to assist us in continuing to move in the right direction.”


"I have confidence in the ambition shown by the board and I'm delighted to build on the success we've had so far. I think this is where I can really contribute to the club in so many different ways. This is a fantastic opportunity and I can assure everyone in the West Ham family that I will do my best."


A true "Mr West Ham"


The 35-year-old Noble has only played for West Ham United in his career, except for a short loan to Ipswich Town and Hull City in 2006. He had played for the Hammers for 18 seasons. During this period, he played 550 games in various competitions, winning 2 Championship promotion play-offs with the club, and served as the club captain for 7 years from 2015 to 2022. Although he always performed well, he was never given an opportunity to get called up to England National Team, one of his regrets as a player, but his dedication and attitude is still praised by many people in the industry.


After retiring from the Premier League side this summer, the positive Noble went to Harvard Business School to enroll in a leadership program in entertainment, media and sports business.


Contributing to the club


As outlined by West Ham, Noble will closely support the work of manager David Moyes as sporting director and will work with the board to provide advice, recommendation and assistance in all aspects of football operations, including the development and coordination of the youth academy, player recruitment, well-being of players and staff, etc., especially to ensure that all players, new and existing, young and old, receive and develop in the the right concepts and ideology of football at West Ham.


It is reported that Moyes has resisted the sports director and football director model for many years, and decided to cooperate with Alan Irvine, a veteran scout who he trusted for many years, on everything related to player recruitment. Only as time changes that he finally relented and allow the club to make changes to the model bu hiring professionals for this role.

In October 2021, West Ham United hired Rob Newman, 58, who was recruited from Manchester City, to be the Director of Football, and ordered him to coordinate with Irvine on the scouting of potential new players and ability analysis, and then report to Moyes for his consideration.


With Noble at the helm, his arrival will play a more critical role in the overall development, including domestic and foreign partnership and supporters group, as well as in the sustainable development of strategic coordination for the club.