Newcastle United are delighted to announce that Steve Harper has been appointed as the club's permanent academy manager.
Harper, who is the club's all-time longest serving player having spent 20 years as a goalkeeper at St. James' Park between 1993 and 2013, moves into the role after being appointed as interim academy manager earlier this year.
Harper during his Newcastle United playing days
Following the end of his playing career in 2016, Harper has become an experienced coach and respected figure off the pitch, achieving his UEFA 'A' Licence, UEFA 'A' Goalkeeping Licence and a Masters of Sports Directorship degree.
He has continued to maintain close links with the Magpies throughout, serving in goalkeeper coaching roles at the Academy between 2016 and 2019 and continuing to support the Newcastle United Foundation and Sir Bobby Robson Foundation charities as a patron and trustee respectively.
He has also coached at international level, serving as goalkeeper coach with Northern Ireland's senior men’s team over 20 fixtures since March 2019.
Following a brief step away from club football, Harper returned to Newcastle United as a first team coach in November 2019 - joining Steve Bruce's coaching staff with a specific remit of enhancing the pathway between the club's Academy and senior men's team.
After being named as interim academy manager in Spring 2021, Harper has now made the position permanent and will spearhead the club's youth operations as it identifies and develops the region's best young footballing talent in preparation for the first team.
Steve Harper speaks to NUFC TV
"I'm delighted to take up the position as academy manager on a permanent basis and have enjoyed every day in the role so far," Harper told nufc.co.uk.
"I'm passionate about our club and to lead our Academy is an honour and a privilege.
"The club, head coach and all the staff have been fantastic, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support.
"We want to help our young people to become better players and have a successful career in the game. Equally importantly, we are developing them as people, instilling them with the right values to support their onward journeys.
"The Academy provides them with wonderful opportunities on and off the pitch and I'm excited to be working with a great team to drive our Academy forwards for the benefit of everyone involved.
Newcastle United's managing director, Lee Charnley, said: "Steve is a great fit for the position of academy manager. He has served Newcastle United as a player, coach and ambassador fantastically over the years and will use his passion for our club to further develop the Academy.
"His experiences on and off the pitch and his knowledge of the club bring a unique perspective to the role and will be of great benefit to all involved with the Academy."