New Middlesbrough goalkeeper coach Alan Fettis set to start this week after Manchester United move

Alan Fettis will start his new role as Middlesbrough goalkeeper coach this week after agreeing to join the club from Manchester United earlier this summer. The former Northern Ireland international has been with Manchester United since 2011, primarily working in their academy.

Fettis joins Boro for the start of pre-season to take a key role in Chris Wilder's backroom team following the departure of Ian Bennett at the end of last season. Fettis was understood to have been happy in his academy role at Old Trafford, but was left impressed by Wilder's vision for Boro and chose to make the switch.

Fettis, 51, joined Manchester United in January 2011 from Sunderland after being appointed by former goalkeeping coach Eric Steele and Sir Alex Ferguson. He worked in various roles, including with the Red Devils first-team, over the years, most recently serving as head of academy goalkeeping since 2018.

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In his time at Old Trafford he worked with numerous top goalkeepers including David de Gea, Dean Henderson, Sam Johnstone, Edwin van der Sar, and former Boro keeper Victor Valdes, among others. Manchester United's announcement that he would be leaving the club to move to an unnamed Championship club said it was 'to fulfil his ambition of coaching within a first-team environment.'

As part of his role as head of academy goalkeeping he oversaw the recruitment of young keepers and the management of the players whilst out on loan. It's understood that's where the connection with Wilder comes from, with Sheffield United taking Henderson on loan for two years during Wilder's time in charge at Sheffield United.

Fettis replaces Ian Bennett as the Boro