Arsenal
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Queens Park Rangers have pulled off a notable addition to their coaching staff with the appointment of former Arsenal assistant manager and club legend Steve Bould. According to The Athletic, the 62-year-old will join the Championship side in a specialised role focused on developing young defensive talent.
The move marks Bould’s return to English football after a four-year absence and aligns with QPR’s vision of building a strong developmental structure under newly appointed head coach Julien Stéphan. While Bould is not part of Stéphan’s immediate backroom staff, he will work closely with first-team operations and the club’s academy as part of a long-term strategy to address the growing scarcity of elite young defenders across Europe.
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“Former Arsenal assistant Steve Bould is set to join Queens Park Rangers in a role focused on developing young defenders,” James McNicholas and David Ornstein reported, adding that QPR believe Bould’s experience will bring “medium to long-term benefits” to the club.
Arsenal
Steve Bould (Image credit: Getty Images)
Bould’s coaching pedigree is well-established. After a decorated 11-year playing career at Arsenal where he made 287 appearances and won three league titles and two FA Cups as part of the iconic George Graham and Arsène Wenger backlines, he transitioned into coaching at the club in 2001. He led Arsenal’s Under-18s to back-to-back Premier Academy League titles and an FA Youth Cup triumph, before being promoted to Wenger’s assistant manager in 2012. He later managed the Under-23s until his departure in 2021, concluding a 30-year spell with the Gunners.
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Following his Arsenal exit, Bould took charge of Belgian second-tier side Lommel SK, part of the City Football Group, where his focus on youth development continued. He remained with the club until January 2025 before returning to the UK.
QPR, who finished 15th in the Championship last season, view Bould’s arrival as a strategic step in building a sustainable defensive identity and improving their pathway from academy to first team. His track record of nurturing future stars such as Hector Bellerín and Alex Iwobi speaks to his ability to elevate young talent, a key area of focus under the club’s ongoing restructuring.
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