Dan Harris (coach)

Dan Harris is an Assistant Head Coach working in professional football. He has worked in the English Premier League, Scottish Premier League and South Korean K League.

Loughborough F.C. & Peterborough United F.C.

Dan studied Physical Education and Sports Science at Loughborough University^[1] where he also played and coached with Loughborough University F.C. & Loughborough Dynamo F.C.

2001 saw Dan begin working with the youth team squads at Peterborough United FC providing Conditioning & Sports Science support whilst also completing his UEFA coaching badges.

Coventry City F.C.

Harris was appointed on a full-time basis as Sports Scientist at Coventry City FC in 2002 working with, then academy manager, Steve Ogrizovic and 1st team head coach Gary McAllister. During his time with the Sky Blues, Harris was part of a coaching staff that guided the U17's squad to both a Premier League final and victory in the prestigious Modena Tournament, defeating Bayern Munich in a physically contested final.^[2] After moving on to work with the City Senior squads, Harris assisted in the development of a number of young players including Gary McSheffrey, Luke Steele and Marton Fulop whilst also helping the Midlands side maintain their Championship status.

Birmingham City F.C.

In 2006 Dan was recruited as part of the backroom staff at Birmingham City FC by Steve Bruce who hailed him as "the loudest man on the planet" ^[3] and credited him with improving the conditioning levels of the Blues' squad.^[3] Harris was known for his high standards during his time at Blues and was involved in the aborted signing of Hossam Ghaly after a conditioning session.^[4][5][6][7]

Harris helped the club achieve promotion to the Premier League as part of the 2006–07 Birmingham City F.C. season backroom staff with a squad that included young Arsenal loanees Fabrice Muamba, Sebastian Larsson and Nicklas Bendtner.

England Youth Teams

Alongside his work in the Premier League, Dan was appointed on an itinerant basis by the English Football Association as a Fitness Coach for the England national football team age-group teams working with U18's & U20's squads that included future full internationals Joe Hart, Daniel Sturridge, and Chris Smalling. During this time Harris also acted as a tutor on a range of courses for the FA, Football League and Professional Footballers' Association.

West Bromwich Albion F.C.

Despite having become an important part of Alex McLeish's backroom team^[8] early 2008 saw Harris appointed by West Bromwich Albion technical director Dan Ashworth to head up the physical development programme at the club working closely with, then manager, Tony Mowbray.^{[9][10][11][12]} During his time with the Baggies, Harris continued to build on his reputation as a coach known for pushing players hard, with a number of 1st team players publicly acknowledging their improved conditioning levels.^[13]

Celtic F.C.

In 2009 Dan was appointed to the 1st team coaching staff at Celtic Football Club, a position he held until 2011, working with both Tony Mowbray and Neil Lennon in the Scottish Premier League and UEFA Champions League.^[14]

Departures of a number of high profile players including Shunsuke Nakamura, Paul Hartley, Gary Caldwell, Barry Robson and Scott McDonald over the course of the season made it a period of transition for the Glasgow club. Despite the large player turnover, the club were still able to secure their 1st Champions League away win since 2003^[15] and also oversaw victory over Old Firm rivals, Rangers FC as part of an 8-game winning streak^[16] to end the season with Robbie Keane & Shaun Maloney making important contributions.

Harris continued with the club into 2011 and, after turning down the opportunity to work in China with Nicolas Anelka,^[17][18][19] worked as a training consultant for a number of athletes in Golf, Football & Mountain Biking whilst also teaching and lecturing.

Seoul E-Land F.C.

2014 saw Dan appointed as Assistant Head Coach ^[20] in the South Korean K League Challenge with new club Seoul E-Land FC ^{[21][22][23][24][25]} - becoming the only Englishman working in the Korean Professional Leagues.

Working with ex-Vancouver Whitecaps FC manager Martin Rennie, Harris helped Seoul E-Land qualify for the playoffs in their inaugural season where they were narrowly beaten on the away goals rule by eventual promotion winners Suwon FC.

May 2016 saw Seoul E-Land replace Rennie with ex-Suwon Samsung Bluewings striker Park Kun-Ha,^[26] choosing to retain Harris in the role of Assistant Head Coach (physical performance). In their 2nd season E-Land missed out on the promotion playoffs on "goals scored".^[27] Harris is currently the longest serving member of the Seoul E-Land FC coaching staff.

References