Mark Noble will become West Ham’s sporting director early next year.
The former midfielder, 35, who spent his entire 18-year career with the Hammers, will take up a newly created position.
His responsibilities include supporting manager David Moyes, working with the club’s board and matters such as academy development, player recruitment and staff welfare.
Former midfielder Mark Noble is set to become West Ham’s new sporting director in January
Noble said: “I’m really excited to come back and can’t wait to get started. I would like to thank the club for giving me this opportunity – it is a great honor for me to take on this role at West Ham United.
“I’ve spent the last 24 years as a player here, first in the academy and then in the first team, and obviously have a deep knowledge and understanding of the club.
“Throughout my playing career, I have strived more than anything to constantly improve, on and off the pitch.
“That became even more important to me when I was made captain of the club in 2015 and the last seven years have given me so much experience and prepared me for the next phase of my life and career.
“The last two years in particular, as my active days were drawing to a close, gave me a fantastic opportunity to really spend some time educating myself and gaining more knowledge and understanding of what goes on behind the scenes.
“This club has made some fantastic strides in that time and I’m really looking forward to coming back at such an exciting time.
“I see it as a position where I can grow and develop personally and professionally. There are always difficult decisions to be made in football, but together with my colleagues at the club I will continue to put the welfare of West Ham United first.
“The last two seasons have been a time of great progress and I want to help us keep going in the right direction.
“I believe in the ambition of the board and look forward to helping to build on the success to date.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for me to make a real contribution and help the club in a variety of ways and I can promise everyone in the West Ham family that I will give absolutely everything I have. ”
Noble’s main focus will be to help players progressing through the academy learn club stats.
Earlier this summer, he traveled to the United States to complete a leadership course in Entertainment, Media and Sports Business at Harvard Business School.
The Hammers have had a disappointing start to the season on the pitch, winning just one of their first seven Premier League games and sitting in the relegation zone for the international fortnight.
Manager Moyes said: “I am delighted to welcome Mark back and have the opportunity to work closely with him again.
“He was a huge asset and strength to me as a player and captain and I know he will be fantastic support for the club and me again in that role.
“As Mark said, it is an opportunity for him to develop and grow in this position and he will have our full support in doing so.
“No one is better qualified to understand West Ham United and its ethos and to bring new ideas to take the club forward in the right direction.
“I know from my dealings with Mark throughout his time as a player – and particularly as we were going through the extremely challenging COVID-19 pandemic – that he has all the skills and qualities needed, as well as the right personality and character to be a huge success in this role.”
Joint Chairman David Sullivan said: “On behalf of everyone at West Ham United, I would like to say how delighted we are that Mark has agreed to accept the offer to return in this new and exciting role.
“He was and always will be a part of the fabric of this football club. Mark was rightly keen to spend some quality time with his family after 18 years of uninterrupted service as a gamer, but there was no doubt he would return in a more senior role in the near future.
“He is already familiar with all aspects of the organisation, he knows all the employees who work here personally, across departments and he always puts the well-being of the club at the center of everything he does.
“He will help create another strong link between the operation of football and the wider club and will continue to be a huge asset to West Ham United.
“On behalf of the board we wish him well and look forward to his continuing to represent West Ham United with passion, dedication and style.”
