Derby County is pleased to confirm the arrival of Jody Morris to manager Frank Lampard’s backroom team.
Morris, who is 39, has joined the Rams as assistant manager following successful negotiations to move to Pride Park Stadium from Premier League side Chelsea, where he has been working in their Academy set-up.
Morris, who was a team-mate of Lampard’s during their playing days at Stamford Bridge, as well as at England Under-21 level, is the new manager’s first addition to the coaching staff.
Reacting to the appointment, Lampard said: “The team around you is hugely important. It’s not just about me as the manager; everyone will have a part to play on the staff and Jody is the first part of that. I am delighted to have him on board.
“Jody has been hugely successful with Chelsea’s youth team and he has won everything there is to win in the last few years.
“He is great at developing young players and that is something we are really going to look to do here.”
He added: “Jody played the game at the highest level himself, has a tremendous work ethic and is great in the dressing room.
“I have known him for so long now and his qualities and personality will bring so much to this club.”
After calling time on a playing career that saw him rack up 395 club appearances as a midfielder for Chelsea, Leeds United, Rotherham United, Millwall, St Johnstone and Bristol City, Morris opted to move into coaching.
He returned to Chelsea during the 2013/14 season to assist their Under-21 side before embarking on a successful two-season spell as assistant manager of the Blues’ Under-18s as they won the FA Youth Cup in 2015 and 2016.
Morris stepped up to become the Under-18s’ manager for the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons - and he enjoyed a huge amount of success in his new role. He guided them to an unprecedented treble with victory in the FA Youth Cup, Under-18 Premier League South and National title in his first campaign in charge.
His second season in the hotseat was equally as impressive after the Blues lifted the FA Youth Cup, Premier League Cup and Premier League South and National trophies last term.