West Ham United have appointed former England international Chris Woods as the Club’s new goalkeeping coach.
The 55-year-old, who won 43 caps for his country between 1985-1993, has extensive experience of coaching in the Barclays Premier League, having worked at Everton and Manchester United over the last two decades.
He will become part of new manager Slaven Bilic’s backroom team as the Hammers prepare for the 2015/16 campaign.
Woods said: “I am thrilled to be joining West Ham United. It is a Club with a great history and tradition.
“I've known Slaven from my time at Everton and we go back a long way even though we have gone on our different paths since he left Goodison Park.
“It will be great for me to get back working alongside him and I am pleased to be given the opportunity.
“Slaven has his own ideas and puts his own stamp on the team that he manages.
“It is certainly an exciting time for me to be coming to West Ham and I am looking forward to working with the goalkeepers.
“I saw Adrian in action last season and I will be hoping to bring something to his game and the other keepers at the Club.
“It is brilliant for the Club to be back in Europe and you want to be playing in the top competitions.”
Woods still has fond memories of his playing days and used to relish playing in the East End of London.
Woods added: “I used to enjoy playing at the Boleyn Ground – especially in a night game under the lights.
“It has been amazing to see the stadium grow as it has done now and the atmosphere is still second to none.”
Woods enjoyed a long and successful playing career, forming part of the Nottingham Forest squad which won the European Cup in 1979 before going on to earn four Scottish Premier Division medals with Rangers and play a part in a League Cup triumph at Norwich City.
He also turned out for Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday on the way to making over 700 senior appearances, while he also travelled to four major tournaments with England.
The Lincolnshire-born stopper then moved into coaching, first taking up a role under Walter Smith at Everton in 1998.
He would go on to enjoy a long association with David Moyes, acting as his goalkeeping coach throughout the Scot's tenure at Goodison Park before moving with him to Manchester United in 2013.
Alongside his club work, Woods also served as goalkeeping coach to the United States national team.
West Ham United can confirm that four members of the first-team backroom staff have left the Club.
West Ham United would like to thank assistant manager Neil McDonald, first-team coach Ian Hendon, goalkeeper coach Bobby Mimms and head of recruitment Martyn Glover for their hard work and commitment during their time at the Club and wish them well for their future careers.
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www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/June/15-June/Hammers-appoint-Woods-as-goalkeeping-coach#l2IwQXrFLMxoPBeC.99
