Jonathan Hogg takes up new role with Huddersfield Town academy
The former Terriers captain will train and play with the club's academy in a player-mentor role
Jonathan Hogg has re-joined Huddersfield Town in a player-mentor role with the club’s academy.
The former Terriers skipper, 36, spent 12 years at the club before being released in the summer. Chairman Kevin Nagle spoke following Hogg’s release about wanting to find him an appropriate role for him with the Terriers.
Having an experienced senior player with ties to the club playing alongside academy players has become a bit of a trend over the past decade or so, with the role previously filled by Andrew Crofts at Brighton and Hove Albion and by current Town coach Paul McShane at Manchester United, among plenty of others.
Hogg will now fulfil that role in Town’s academy, playing and training alongside the club’s youngsters to help offer guidance and set a positive example of senior professionalism.
He said in a club statement: “Since the summer, I’ve been clear in my own mind that I wanted to make sure the next step I take within my career is the right one.
“While I considered opportunities away from Huddersfield Town and had discussions that might’ve taken me in another direction, none of those options sat right with me or my family in the way that this one does.
“Working with the club to see if there was a role that made sense for me to take on, being an on-field mentor within the academy really appealed to me. I’ve kept myself in good shape and have always enjoyed training, so combining that passion with helping younger players get ready for senior football feels like a natural fit.
“I’m thankful to the club for welcoming me back and grateful to the academy for their support in getting me used to this new position, too.
“With one chapter of life closing at the end of last season and another now open, I’ll be forever proud of what’s come before, but I’m excited to still have the opportunity to give my all to Huddersfield Town and continue my story as a Terrier in a new way.”
Academy director Jon Worthington said: “Over the course of a series of discussions since the summer, it became clear to us that Jonathan not only had a real appetite to remain at the club, but to work more closely with our younger players and help them progress to a first-team level that he excelled at for so many years.
“As part of our academy programme, we aim to teach our players not only the actions and behaviours of a successful professional player within games, but when training and in life, too.
“In our eyes, there is no better example of that than Jonathan, who specifically embodies the values and ideals of our club and what we expect from the players who represent us.
“We are already seeing the benefit of his presence around the building and in training. His openness with players to answer questions, provide practical feedback and mentor them in the moment when sharing a field is invaluable, and something we see as a total positive in their ongoing development.
“Having enjoyed a long and successful professional career, we’re delighted to have him again leading by example and showing the next generation what being a Terrier is all about.”