Welsh football’s youngest manager joins Cefn Druids’ coaching staff

Welsh football’s youngest ever manager has made the step up into the professional game.

Jordan Hadaway, who was 18 when he managed North East Wales side Caerwys, has joined the coaching staff of the Cefn Druids.

The 19-year-old has become first-team assistant coach, where he will work under Head Coach, Bruno Lopes.

He will also be responsible for the clubs Elite Development Squad, which will see him manage the Druids’ youth team. 

Commenting on his new role, Hadaway said: “I sometimes have to remind myself that I’ve not even turned 20 yet, and I realise I need to stay grounded, listen to advice and carry on learning.

“But despite my age I always feel confident about being able to earn the respect of the players through my approach to coaching.

“The new role at Cefn Druids is one I couldn’t turn down.

“I loved my time at Caerwys and I will be forever grateful for them giving me my first senior managerial job in football.

“But with the greatest respect in the world, I’m jumping five tiers to move to the Welsh Premier and it’s something of a dream come true.”

Club chairman Des Williams, added: “I looked at our academy and realised we had no pathway, no structure, for coaches to be able to learn the DNA of the club and then, over a period of time, step up to become a first team coach, or even a head coach.

“And because Wales is a smaller nation with a smaller pool of talent, finding good quality coaches is really, really tough.

“Jordan’s name cropped up as being a young up-and-coming coach operating in the lower tiers of Welsh football. We watched him and realised he fitted the mould of what we were looking for.”