Liam Brady stepping down from Youth Academy

Arsenal Football Club has announced that the head of its world renowned youth academy, Liam Brady, has decided to leave his current role by May 2014 after 25 years with the Club.

Brady, 56, a former Republic of Ireland International midfielder who starred for the Gunners in the 1970s, has established Arsenal’s academy as one of the leaders in the game over the past 17 years. He has now given early notification of his desire to leave his role in order to help recruit a successor and ensure an orderly handover period.

Brady had a glittering playing career, starring for Arsenal in the 1970s before moving to Italy, where he enjoyed spells with Juventus, Sampdoria, Inter Milan and Ascoli. He finished his playing career with West Ham United. He also had spells as a manager with Celtic and Brighton and Hove Albion, and more recently assistant manager with the Republic of Ireland.

During his time as Arsenal’s head of youth development and the academy, he has been responsible for developing numerous professional players including Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs. The Club will be discussing potential roles with Brady to ensure he stays involved.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said: “Liam has a deep understanding of what it takes to discover and develop a talented youngster into someone who can perform at the highest level. He has made a massive contribution to Arsenal Football Club. It will be difficult to find a worthy successor but we will be looking for someone who can build on what Liam and his team have created.”

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/liam-brady-to-step-down-from-role-in-2014?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arsenal-news+%28News+Feed%29

Hope he stays involved with the club in some manner.

Dennis Bergkamp is a leading candidate to succeed Liam Brady as the head of Arsenal's youth academy. The club have announced that Brady will step down from his current post before the end of May 2014 to take a different role within the organisation but he will assist in the search for his replacement and the hand-over process.

Bergkamp, who enjoyed 11 successful seasons at Arsenal as a player, is now working as the assistant to the Ajax manager, Frank de Boer, with a connection to the Dutch club's youth development programme. Arsenal will seek a household name to take over from Brady, whose reputation will help them to attract the top youth players, and Bergkamp will come under consideration. The sooner Arsenal make the appointment, the quicker Brady will step aside.

The 56-year-old Brady, an Arsenal playing legend, was appointed to oversee the club's academy in 1996 and he has helped to develop current first-team players such as Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs.

"Liam has a deep understanding of what it takes to discover and develop a talented youngster into someone who can perform at the highest level," said the club's chief executive, Ivan Gazidis.

"He has made a massive contribution to Arsenal. It will be difficult to find a worthy successor but we will be looking for someone who can build on what Liam and his team have created."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jan/30/dennis-bergkamp-arsenal-liam-brady

http://www.fanatix.com/news/vieira-set-for-sensational-return-to-arsenal/107296/


Vieira could be an option

http://www.goal.com/en/news/596/exclusive/2013/02/08/3735499/arsenal-target-bergkamp-for-first-team-role-with-brady-set
Seems like a certain legend is going to make his comeback.