Former Posh defender Sagi Burton is now working full-time within the Posh Academy.
Former Peterborough United defender Sagi Burton is embarking on his coaching journey within the Academy and ahead of the 2024-2025 campaign has taken a new role, which will see him working with the Under 15s and helping to support in other areas of the department.
Burton, who played under Director of Football Barry Fry when he was manager of the club in the early 2000’s, initially joined the club last season, assisting within the Foundation Phase of the Academy, but has now become a permanent addition after the club were successful in an application to the Professional Player to Coach Scheme.
That scheme is a joint programme from the PFA, the Premier League and the EFL, designed to increase the number of Black, South Asian and Minority Ethnic players who transition into full-time coaching roles in the professional game. The scheme provides up to six coaches per season with a 23-month intensive work placement at an EFL club, within the Academy or First Team environment.
Academy Manager Dan Robinson said: “Sagi has joined us on the Professional Player to Coach scheme through the Premier League. We were very fortunate to be one of the clubs to be successful with our application.
“Sagi had been working for us on a part-time basis in our Foundation and Youth Phase and we were delighted that the application was successful, and he is now on-board full-time. He will be working across all departments within the Academy, focusing on his coaching with the Under 15s and we will support him with his career as a professional coach moving forward allowing him to experience different age groups and everything that happens behind the scenes.”
Burton added: “It is great to be here on a full-time basis and although it has only been three weeks so far, I am really enjoying it. This gives me the opportunity to really learn how the Academy functions as well as developing myself as a coach. I will be working primarily with the Under 15s, but I am helping Ryan Semple with the Under 21s at the weekend and have already found myself utilising every department within the Academy.
“You don’t realise just how much admin is involved! From planning sessions, to working with the different departments, it is an eye-opener, but it is a good eye-opener. I think in the early weeks it is about finding my USP and I think passing on my experience as a defender to certain age groups hopefully helps them, they can ask things without worrying that I am their specific coach.”