Frank McAvennie: Mark Noble to join West Ham United backroom staff
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie says Mark Noble is set to stick around at West Ham after his retirement and become part of the coaching staff at the club.
The Hammers skipper is set to retire at the end of the season after a 16-year career in which he only represented the Irons during his club career.
But while his presence will be missed on the pitch and in the changing room, McAvennie praised him for being a ‘great servant’ to the club but said he expects him to be around the place anyway from what he’s been told.
“I’m hearing he’s going to be about the place, from what I’ve been told,” he told West Ham Zone.
“He might be on the coaching staff or something. He’s not going to go and play anywhere else. He’s got the money to retire and spend a lot more time with his family. Who would disagree with that if he wanted to do that?
“He’s been there, and by all accounts I don’t know him personally but he’s a great lad. Doing the jobs and showing the kids different things and leading by example.
“So yeah he’s been a great servant to West Ham and we’ve got the replacement in Declan who’s taken over the reigns. They were a good partnership and Soucek came in and all of a sudden him and Rice were keeping Noble out a bit.”
Amazing
So it turns out the Noble association with West Ham isn’t coming to an end and there may not be any better news this season at the club.
The man is a bonafide legend in these parts and even though his influence on the pitch hasn’t been what it once was over the last couple of seasons, he’s still a huge part of the club and deserves all the praise.
Having his experience and influence among the backroom staff can only be a positive thing, especially with the younger players coming through the academy as they will still have someone to look up to that has been on that journey.
He will learn plenty under David Moyes too and for all we know he could go on to become the next Pep Guardiola. But for now it’s just nice to know he’ll still be hanging around and his journey isn’t over yet.
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