Nathan who? Get to know more about the new Hatters boss!
10 things to know about Nathan Jones!
• Nathan Jones is the Hatters’ 31st different manager.
• He is the 13th different manager to have previously been on the Town’s books as a player.
• Nathan was born in Rhondda, South Wales on 28th May 1973.
• His early football career started as an apprentice at Cardiff City. He turned professional in 1993.
• Nathan was signed by David Pleat for £10,000 from Merthyr in 1995 but left the Hatters without making a single appearance. Before the 1995/96 campaign had even begun, Pleat left to take over at Sheffield Wednesday.
• Jones is bi-lingual and is able to speak English and Spanish. After leaving the Hatters he had spells in Spain with Numancia and Badajoz. He has an A-level in Spanish.
• As assistant manager at Yeovil he helped introduce future English internationals Andros Townsend, Steven Caulker and Ryan Mason in their first steps in professional football. The trio all joined the Glovers on loan from Tottenham during Jones’ time at Huish Park.
• Jones began coaching at a young age, and was a coach coordinator in American soccer camps in the States when only 19.
• He has worked under three separate managers at Brighton – Oscar Garcia, Sami Hyypia and Chris Hughton. When Hyypia left the Seagulls last season, Jones took caretaker charge, overseeing two matches: a 2-2 draw with Reading and a 2-0 win at Fulham in the Championship.
• Last summer Nathan was asked to assist and shadow England Under-21 coaches Gareth Southgate and Steve Holland ahead of their Euro 2015 preparations.