AC Milan are set to add Wolves goalkeeping coach Tony Roberts to their staff this summer, according to a report coming from England.
As per Football Insider, Roberts will leave Wolves after two years with the Premier League side having agreed a deal that will see him try a new experience in Italy, joining Milan who have been on the hunt to fill that vacancy.
Roberts is ‘highly regarded in coaching circles’ as per the report and he has had spells with Arsenal, Birmingham, Swansea and QPR.
He spent 11 of his 25 years as a player at QPR, also appearing for Dagenham & Redbridge and having short spells at Millwall, St Albans City and Atlanta Silverbacks in the USA.
At Molineux, Roberts has worked under two head coaches – namely Bruno Lage and Julen Lopetegui – and has been imparting his knowledge on the current goalkeeping tandem Jose Sa, Dan Bentley and Tom King.
Now, he will work with France No.1 Mike Maignan as well as Italian back-ups Marco Sportiello and Antonio Mirante, plus crucially young prodigy Lapo Nava.
It was actually confirmed on Wolves’ official website that Roberts has left them to take up ‘a new coaching role at a European club’.
Sporting director Matt Hobbs said: “Tony will certainly be missed, but it’s an unbelievable opportunity that he has received so we’d never stand in his way.
“He’s been up front and honest about the contact has had, and it’s a great chance for him and he goes with our full support Tony’s built the best goalkeeping department we’ve ever had at the club, in terms of the coaching available to the boys.
“We’ve done a lot of recruitment in the academy through Harry [Hooman] and his team. The best thing I can say about Tony is what he’s leaving behind and the work he’s put in should make this change relatively seamless. Of course, Julen is disappointed, but understands why Tony wants to take the opportunity.”
Ummm how do they adjudge GK coaches? Wolves didn’t exactly concede very little last two seasons. At the same time bigger clubs concede less but it’s probably due to having good defences. So I guess midtable clubs with many saves 🤷♂️ or maybe a Saving xG stat?