Melbourne Victory youth coach Darren Davies will join the Young Socceroos as an assistant to head coach Paul Okon.
He’ll commence the role at the Young Socceroos’ camp in Melbourne this week, but will juggle commitments with Melbourne Victory on an ongoing basis.
“I am extremely grateful to Melbourne Victory for granting me the opportunity to work with the national under 20’s squad,” Davies said.
“It’s certainly an honour that the technical staff at FFA have sought my involvement and I am really looking forward to being involved in the national football program and further developing the best young talent in the country.”
The former Welsh youth international has a strong track record at Victory, winning the Foxtel National Youth League in 2012/13 with a squad containing Nick Ansell, James Jeggo and Andrew Nabbout.
The club is also currently leading the NPL 1 East division in the race for promotion to the NPL, led by the likes of Joey Katebian, John Maclean and George Howard.
“They [Victory’s new youth recruits] could be playing in the NYL for the next four years if they want to, but we don’t want that, we want them first team players before that,” Davies told the Corner Flag before the NPL season.
“Of course we want to engrain winners, grow winners – we want a winning mentality, and we certainly do that.”
Victory youth’s backroom staff has undergone a number of personnel changes this year, with John Aloisi joining as an assistant before being offered the head coaching role at Brisbane Roar ahead of the 2015/16 campaign, and Vaughn Coveny departing prior to the NPL season only to return from Sunshine George Cross.