Aston Villa can confirm that Richard O’Kelly has decided to leave his position within the Bodymoor Heath coaching staff.
Richard joined the club as Assistant Head Coach with Dean Smith from Brentford in October 2018.
Richard said: “Over the past three years I have had the tremendous privilege of being part of the progression of Aston Villa Football Club. The investment by the owners in the state-of-the art facilities and recruitment in all areas has set the standards for Aston Villa to be a top club and achieve even greater success in the years to come.
“I have hugely enjoyed my time here; one of my favourite aspects of the job has been working with the talented and driven backroom team. There is a fantastic culture amongst the staff who have all shown the ability to pull together in the same direction and support each other, including through some challenging times. This is mirrored by the group of young ambitious players and more experienced role models that now form the first team squad, as well as the staff at the vibrant academy who create the perfect environment for the stars of tomorrow.
“I have witnessed first-hand Dean’s excellent leadership and coaching skills. He is a top manager and I will take with me great memories of working with him and the other coaches. I am very grateful to the club and its wonderful fans for their support and will enjoy continuing to follow the Villa on its journey.”
Dean Smith said: “Richard has worked with me for the best part of a decade and we have always had a really close relationship. We are friends as well as colleagues and I will miss him. I would like to thank him on a personal level for the dedication and support he has always given me and on behalf of everyone at Aston Villa we wish him all the very best for the future.”
