Yahoo News Who is Ben Petty? Leicester lowdown on Birmingham City assistant who coached £38m ace
Ben Petty has been appointed Birmingham City assistant manager in the first coaching addition sanctioned by new boss Chris Davies.
Davies wants to bring ‘two or three’ of his own staff to Blues after succeeding Tony Mowbray as manager and Petty, 47, has joined from Leicester City. While Petty was part of the under-21s set-up at Leicester and didn’t work directly with Davies during his time as Brendan Rodgers’ number two, it is at the King Power where their coaching chemistry started.
Petty has spent the last eight years working with Leicester’s under-21s. He initially joined the Foxes as under-21s assistant manager but Petty has taken charge of Leicester’s second string in recent seasons.
A brief statement confirming Petty’s move to Blues suggests the coach is well thought of in the East Midlands. It reads: “Ben leaves with the thanks of everyone at Leicester City for his contribution to the Club’s Development Pathway over the last eight years and best wishes for the next step in his career.”
READ: Chris Davies makes ‘none of that’ pledge over Birmingham City’s transfer plans
READ: Six Birmingham City stars face make or break pre-seasons under Chris Davies
After a coaching career formed in development football, Petty is now taking on his first job at senior level. He isn’t short on experience though. Similarly to Davies, Petty has put in the hard yards on the coaching circuit to earn his place on Blues’ staff.
Solihull-born Petty was a defender in his playing days and came through the ranks at Aston Villa, although he never made the breakthrough into their first team. He enjoyed two seasons apiece at Stoke City and Hull City before dropping down the footballing ladder and starting to plan ahead.
Petty combined part-time football for Burton Albion, Solihull-based Moor Green and Redditch United with coaching and found his way back to Villa. He rose through the ranks at Bodymoor Heath to become a prominent figure in their youth set-up by 2016.
His final act before leaving Villa was to lead their youth side to the Hong Kong Soccer Sevens title. One-time Blues loanee Matija Sarkic, who tragically passed away last week at the age of 26, was Petty’s goalkeeper during that successful tournament.
Petty has contributed to the development of some high quality footballers in the past eight years, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Harvey Barnes who last summer transferred to Newcastle United from Leicester for £38 million.
Speaking after Barnes made his senior debut for Leicester against FC Porto in the Champions League, Petty said: “It was a great boost for the whole squad. We spoke to the players prior to the UEFA Youth League match on Wednesday that, although we couldn’t qualify, Harvey was going to make his Champions League debut.
“So it felt like we were winners out there. Playing in Europe has given Harvey a platform to kick on and everyone else will think they have a chance to follow in his footsteps.”
LeicestershireLive’s Leicester reporter Jordan Blackwell said: “Ben Nelson, Kasey McAteer, and Wanya Marcal all played their part in Leicester’s Championship win, and they all came through after substantial time with Petty.”
Petty worked closely with Rodgers – and therefore Davies – and latterly Enzo Maresca so that Leicester’s under-21s could play similarly to the first team from a tactical viewpoint.
Blackwell added: “Leicester’s Under-21s definitely became more about technical quality rather than physical quality, as it had been before Petty took control in 2021. Petty was highly rated by Rodgers. While Leicester tended to struggle results-wise at Under-21 level on his watch, the number of players progressing into the first team has improved.”
Blues have a plethora of young talent for Davies and Petty to develop in the forthcoming League One campaign. The careers of George Hall, Romelle Donovan, Brandon Khela and Alfie Chang are still to be shaped.
Whilst there is probably room for an elder statesman in Davies’ coaching staff, there is no shortage of experience. Between Blues’ number one and number two, there is decades of knowledge stored away.
