Everton’s new Technical Director Nick Cox has made his first major appointment after former Manchester United coach Alan Fettis agreed to join the club.
The former Northern Ireland international goalkeeper has spent 11 years at Old Trafford, where he was a coach under current Everton boss David Moyes, before moving to Middlesbrough in 2022. He will now take on the role of Head of Academy Goalkeeping at Everton.
Fettis, who has also previously worked with Jordan Pickford and Mark Travers at Sunderland and Middlesbrough respectively, will take on the key new role overseeing goalkeeping academy progression.
READ MORE: How Nick Cox will transform Everton’s academy with data
In an exclusive interview with the Belfast Telegraph, he said: “I’ve spoken to the people at Everton, I’ve completed my interview. It’s another good challenge, it’s a wonderful club and I’m looking forward to it.
“Some of the staff who were at Manchester United are there. And I obviously worked with David (Moyes) at Manchester United. I haven’t been in the new stadium yet, but it looks fantastic.”
Everton were recruiting for the role over the summer after promoting David Lucas to first team duties. The role, says the club, involves: “overall management, development and coaching of the Academy Goalkeepers, in line with the Coaching philosophy, vision and values of the Academy and the Club as a whole.”
Fettis will have plenty of talent to work with. Everton u21 goalkeeper Fraser Barnsley, who is currently on loan at Marine, is a fellow Northern Irelander. Meanwhile Douglas Lukjanciks is a highly rated goalkeeper with excellent ability on the ball. He is the current u18s number one and signed a pro deal with Everton last season.
Other talented goalkeepers at academy level include Goodness Gospel-Eze, the 17 year on loan and currently excelling at Burscough, as well as 15-year-old England youth international Ruben Savvas, who signed from Liverpool in the summer in a major coup for the club.
Fettis will begin work as one of three new academy roles set to be filled under Nick Cox. The club is also seeing a Lead Coach to run the club’s Academy Advanced Talent Programme, which will oversee player development and relationships with young players and their families.
The club is also searching for local scouts to find the best young players in the North West and beyond, according to recent job listings.