Former Northern Ireland international 'excited' to join Stephen Robinson's coaching staff at Aberdeen
Stephen Robinson has added to his backroom staff with the appointment of his Northern Ireland compatriot Stephen Craigan at Aberdeen.
Craigan joins the Dons as first team coach while also leading the development of Aberdeen’s emerging talent.
The 49-year-old is certainly no stranger to Scottish football after playing the majority of his career at Motherwell over two spells, which was sandwiched between time spent at Partick Thistle.
In terms of his coaching, Craigan has also been caretaker manager at Motherwell on two separate occasions, as well as being an assistant manager of the Northern Ireland U19 squad.
Alongside his first-team responsibilities, Aberdeen say that Craigan will oversee the transition of the club’s most promising young players into senior football, working closely with Stuart Duff and the wider football department to ensure the club’s best young players are given every opportunity to fulfil their potential.
Craigan has already started his new employment at Pittodrie and said the opportunity is one he is “excited about”.
He told Aberdeen’s official website "One of the biggest attractions of this role was the opportunity to work closely with the club's best young players. That's an area I've always enjoyed and where I believe I've done some of my best work.
"Every player develops differently. My role is to make sure our highest-potential players receive the individual support, challenge and guidance they need alongside their first-team training to maximise that potential.
"That means looking at every aspect of their game and building tailored development plans that give them the best possible chance of succeeding.
"Ultimately, if we can help more young players establish themselves in Aberdeen's first team, contribute to winning matches and go on to enjoy successful careers, then we'll have done our job."
The upcoming campaign will mark Robinson’s first full season at the helm at Aberdeen and he believes Craigan’s appointment represents an important step in strengthening both the first team and the Club’s long-term pathway.
He stated: "Stephen brings extensive playing and coaching experience, but just as importantly he has an outstanding track record of helping young players fulfil their potential.
"We've identified the transition from Academy football into becoming an established first-team player as one of the most important stages in a player's development. Too often, talented young players simply train with the first team and are expected to improve naturally.
"Our ambition is to be much more deliberate than that. Stephen will work closely with our most promising young players on an individual basis, ensuring every aspect of their technical, tactical, physical and mental development is planned, monitored and challenged.
"He'll be an important link between our development group and the first team, helping create a pathway while giving our young players the very best opportunity to establish themselves at Aberdeen.
"I've worked with Stephen twice before and know exactly the qualities he'll bring. He'll demand high standards every day, and he'll help drive both the team's success and the development of players who can make a real impact for this football club."