Paul Ashworth

Paul Ashworth (born 29 September 1969[1]) is a former English footballer.

Paul Ashworth
Personal information
Date of birth (1969-09-29) 29 September 1969
Place of birth Norwich, Norfolk, England
Youth career
Team
Norwich City
Teams managed
Years Team
2001–2003 Ventspils
2004 Riga
2005 Rostov (sporting director)
2005 Rostov (Caretaker)
2005–2009 Skonto
2010–2014 Kwara Football Academy (technical director)
2015 Sunshine Stars
2015–2018 Ventspils
2019–2020 Astana (technical director)
2020 Astana (Caretaker)

Ashworth had previously played at youth level for Norwich City before setting up PASS Soccer Schools, a national company. He later worked for Cambridge United and Peterborough United before moving to Latvia where he managed FK Ventspils, FK Riga and Skonto Riga as well as taking over at Russian side FC Rostov as Sporting Director. He worked as a technical director in Nigeria from May 2010 – 2014.

He was manager/technical director at Sunshine Stars Football Club, a Nigerian premier league team for 6 months before moving back to FK Ventspils as head coach (manager).

Playing career

Paul came through the youth system at Norwich City where he played for the side at schoolboy level. He didn't make the step up to the first team though but began to coach the youth teams at the club.[1]

Youth coaching career

Soccer Schools

While Ashworth was at Carrow Road, he set up his own company, PASS Soccer Schools.[2]

Cambridge United

In 1992, Cambridge United offered Ashworth a role as youth development officer at the club's Abbey Stadium.[3]

Managerial career

FK Ventspils

In a league dominated by multi-championship winning side Skonto Riga, Ashworth secured two consecutive runners-up finishes, a Latvian Cup triumph and steered his squad into the UEFA Cup for the first time. In subsequent seasons, they also played Finnish side HJK Helsinki, Swiss outfit AC Lugano (winning their first European match)[4]

FC Rostov

Having previously been unsuccessfully interviewed for the vacant managers position at Russian Premier League club FC Rostov, Ashworth was approached by the president of the club offering him the position of Sporting Director. He accepted the role and was responsible for all of the football side of the club such as youth policy, transfer policy, dealing with visas and international players, research and building of new training facilities as well as liaison with the manager on first team matters. After taking charge temporarily for two matches, he became the first Englishman ever to coach in the Russian Premier League.[5]

Skonto FC

It was during this period that he was described as "The Mourinho of Latvia" as a reference to his ability as a top coach despite not having played professionally in senior football [6]

Kwara Football Academy

In 2009 Ashworth moved to the position of technical director of Nigeria's only residential football academy, The Kwara Football Academy. Based in Ilorin, it takes talented youngsters from the ages of 13 to 21 and trains them as professional footballers while allowing them to get educated at the same time. Ashworth now has a staff of nine coaches and more than eighty full-time staff under his tutelage and has developed excellent facilities and training programmes[7]

FC Astana

On 14 January 2019, FC Astana announced the appointment of Ashworth as their new executive director.[8] Following the dismissal of manager Michal Bílek on 26 August 2020, Ashworth was appointed acting head-coach of Astana.[9] Ashworth his role as caretaker manager and executive director by mutual consent on 7 October 2020.[10]

References
  1. "Flown From the Nest - Paul Ashworth". Ex-canaries.co.uk. 29 September 1969. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  2. "Buxton man is coaching Nigeria's top footballing talent". Eastern Daily Press. Edp24.co.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  3. "Paul Ashworth". Kitcarsonfootball.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  4. "UEFA Europa League 2002/03 - History - Ventspils-Lugano –". Uefa.com. 15 August 2002. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  5. "English coach hits the heights in Russia". BBC News. 14 January 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  6. "'Mourinho of Latvia' does his bit". Icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk. 10 August 2006. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  7. "INTERVIEW: Paul Ashworth – From Norwich City to Nigeria". Betscout.com. 29 September 1969. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  8. "Пол Эшуорт – новый исполнительный директор Астаны". fcastana.kz (in Russian). FC Astana. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  9. "Михал Билек покинул свой пост". fcastana.kz/ (in Russian). FC Astana. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  10. "Пол Эшуорт покинул Астану". fcastana.kz/ (in Russian). FC Astana. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
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