Jimmy Shan promoted to u21s Head Coach

Following his stellar success in 2024-25, Jimmy Shan has been appointed u21s Head Coach ahead of the start of the 2025-26 season. Jimmy, who only joined Villa in the summer of 2024 (having been opposing manager of Albion when Dean Smith's Villa heroes overcame the Baggies in the 2018-19 Championship play-off semi-final) led Villa’s u18s to the treble in his first season - winning the u18 Premier League South, the u18 Premier League and the FA Youth Cup. Shan will replace Josep Gombau, who only joined in January 2024, and who led the u21s to the UEFA Youth League Round of 16.

Shan explained:

“I’ve got a similar group that I worked with last year, in terms of the FA Youth Cup run, so I’ve got players who are familiar with me and I’m familiar with them.

“We’ve just tried to level up and layer on, adding one or two strands that are going to make us more competitive.

“Hopefully it will give us a bit more surprise in and around the final third and we’ll be a bit more creative. Ultimately, we’re trying to cement what we’ve worked on in pre-season.

“It’s a league campaign, and last year was one that the football club and the staff involved were bitterly disappointed in the league position. 

“We want to make sure we’re competitive. My mentality is to be a winner and we want to win as many games as we can and make sure we’re as competitive as we can be in our league campaign.

“It happens at every club during pre-season that you have an opportunity as a young player to get in and around it. It’s your duty then to make an impression and stay around it.

“The reports back from the senior staff have been pleasing. The boys have gone there, they’ve competed well and there have been some fantastic performances.

“The most pleasing thing is that they don’t look out of place and that’s really important for a young player. It’s not about showing that you’re going to be a standout player but making sure you, first and foremost, fit in the group and the dynamics and that you can match the level.”

“If I’m being really selfish, from a tactical pinch and a tactical challenge, it’s going to be fantastic.

“I did the same competition (EFL Trophy) many, many years ago at West Brom though I imagine it looks a bit different now.

“The challenge of the Youth League as well and how competitive PL2 is, I’m really looking forward to it and testing my tactical wits.”