According to a report from Mark Ritson of the Croydon Advertiser, former Crystal Palace captain Paddy McCarthy has taken up a coaching role at the club’s academy.
The 33-year-old finally hung up his boots in the summer due to a knee injury and was unsure about what he was going to do in his post-playing career, but a call from Gary Issott offering a job made his mind up for him.
McCarthy will coach the club’s under 16s and follows in the footsteps of former Eagles John Salako and Richard Shaw in taking up coaching roles at the club.
The Irishman played over 150 games for Palace, scoring six goals. He arrived at the Eagles in 2008 and had loan spells with Sheffield United, Bolton Wanderers, and Preston North End. However, injuries wrecked the latter part of his career and it was no surprise to see Palace release him and to see him deciding to retire.
Speaking to the Croydon Advertiser about his role, he said:
I am coaching the Palace U16s, I gained my UEFA A Licence and it’s a great start for me. I am really enjoying it at the moment, so I am going to continue progressing and continue as a coach, serving my apprenticeship. Gary asked me what I was doing and that there was a space in the academy to coach, that it would be good for the lads and good for me. I know the club inside out and I know what it takes to be a Crystal Palace player. Hopefully I can pass on that knowledge to the young players in the academy and make some players. I’ve had a great response and it’s been a great start for me in my coaching career.
