Dean Whitehead has left his role as Huddersfield Town Under-19 and elite development coach to take a position at League One Shrewsbury Town.
The thirty-seven-year-old will join Sam Ricketts staff in Shropshire, replacing Joe Parkinson, who left to become Dave Challinor’s assistant at National League club Hartlepool United last week.
Whitehead made more than five hundred and fifty league appearances in his career for Oxford United, Sunderland, Stoke City, Middlesbrough, and Huddersfield.
Huddersfield announced his departure in a statement on their official website. Chairman Phil Hodgkinson explained the club did not want to lose their highly regarded coach but had fought hard to receive compensation for his services once it was clear he wanted to leave. He said: ‘We are all disappointed to see Dean leave the club, but he had ambitions to coach in first-team football, and this was a good opportunity for him.’
‘We saw Dean as a valuable member of staff, so we worked hard to get suitable compensation for him.’
‘Our excellent academy coaches will continue to work hard with our Under-19 and EDT sides until we appoint a replacement.’
‘We have a lot of good memories with Dean as a player and coach and wish him all the best for the future.’
Whitehead arrived in West Yorkshire from Middlesborough in 2015, and his experience on the pitch helped in the Terriers’ promotion to the Premier League two years later.
He made sixty-three appearances for Huddersfield, including four in the Premier League, before hanging up his boots and taking up his first coaching role under former head coach David Wagner.
Our View
Huddersfield fans will be sad to see their old midfielder leave; he was a popular figure at the John Smith’s Stadium.
I’m sure he will leave with their best wishes and understand the reasons for his departure.
From all reports, it sounds like Shrewsbury have landed an excellent coach.
