Former Wolves and Sheffield United star joins Birmingham City after retiring

Birmingham City have announced that former Wolves striker Leon Clarke will be joining the club as an academy coach.

The 39-year-old announced in May he was retiring from professional football following a 20-year playing career. He is now taking his first steps in to life after hanging up his boots by turning to coaching. He is studying towards his UEFA A Licence which would allow him to manage in the Championship, and comes to the club having coached Kidderminster Harriers’ under-18s team.

Clarke alongside physical activity educator Simon Pierre Yu'u Makengele will be on placement at St Andrew's for the remainder of the 2024/25 season as part of the FA's Club Placement Programme. Birmingham are one of several clubs which have partnered with the FA to help provide opportunities for coaches from historically underrepresented backgrounds.

David Brown, Blues Academy's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead commented: "We are happy to be part of this scheme to support the initiative which also develops a pathway to creating future coaches for the Birmingham City Academy programme.

"And it again show our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion across the City of Birmingham."

He later departed to play for Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon Town, and Charlton Athletic permanently. Clarke returned to Wolves in 2013, adding another three goals to his tally, but departed once again to join Bury and later Sheffield United. His other clubs included Bristol Rovers, Hartlepool United, Kettering Town, and Mickelover before he retired.

In total, he played for 23 clubs over a 20-year period, and scored 156 goals in 555 games. He won the League One title with both Wolves and Sheffield United, and also helped the Blades to promotion to the Premier League, where he made two top-flight appearances. Clarke also won promotion from League Two with Bristol Rovers.