Portsmouth Football Club are delighted to confirm that Zesh Rehman has been appointed first team development coach.
The former Fulham, QPR and Bradford defender – who played international football for Pakistan – arrived at Fratton Park as the academy’s lead professional development phase coach last summer.
He stepped up to help the first team on a temporary basis back in January following the departure of Danny and Nicky Cowley.
Rehman remained in the post when John Mousinho took over as head coach and will now join his backroom team on a permanent basis.
The 39-year-old said: “I’m incredibly excited to continue the collaboration with Richard Hughes, John Mousinho, Jon Harley, Joe Prodomo and Dan Ashby.
"I am looking forward to utilising my experiences of playing in all four leagues to help our players maximise their potential."
“I believe continual development is needed by players of all ages and at all stages of their careers. Every player is a work in progress and never the finished article.
“I am looking forward to utilising my experiences of playing in all four leagues to help our players maximise their potential.
“There is no better feeling than assisting an individual, partnership or a unit to improve and then see that work transferred to a matchday, helping the team win.”
Blues boss Mousinho added: “The first interaction I had with the coaching staff when I arrived was with Zesh. I called him on the way in and asked him to set training up before we’d even properly met.
“Since that day he’s been absolutely brilliant. He’s incredibly diligent and the lads and staff at the club all really like him.
“He adds something different to me and Jon, providing a different angle, and is an influential presence on the bench.
“Development is a key part of what we’re trying to do here and when we talk about the complementary skillsets of the coaching staff, that’s something he can bring to the fore.
"He adds something different to me and Jon, providing a different angle, and is an influential presence on the bench."
“Zesh thoroughly deserves the step up into first team football and we’re delighted to be able to secure his services.”
Academy manager Greg Miller said: “I am really pleased that Zesh has officially secured a role as part of the first team staff.
“This news highlights the qualities he has demonstrated while working in the academy and the input he has had since moving temporarily to be part of John’s team.
“Tanya Robins, James Barlow and I put a lot of effort into selecting the right candidate for our lead professional development phase coach and were not disappointed with what Zesh brought to the role, but our loss will be the first team’s gain.
“This appointment will strengthen the link between the academy and the first team further and Zesh’s new role will provide our academy graduates and all first team players with a great person and player developer.”