Brighton & Hove Albion have appointed former Zambia international Enock Mwepu as the club’s Under-9s head coach.
The 24-year-old, who is a former Brighton’s senior team player, retired from active football in October due to a heart condition that doctors described as life-threatening.
In a statement, the club said that Mwepu will begin the new role at the club’s academy in the new year as he begins a new stage in his career.
“We were very keen to help Enock with the next stage of his career, and we’re delighted he’s taken us up on the offer to join our academy coaching staff after an incredibly difficult time for him and his family following his diagnosis,” the Seagulls’ Chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber told the club website.
“Whenever we recruit a new member of staff, on or off the pitch, we want them to fit with our club values and Enock absolutely encapsulates those perfectly. We’re thrilled Enock will continue to be part of our club, and believe Enock has a huge amount of potential as a coach. We want to give him the opportunity to flourish in this role.”
Mwepu quit football at the beginning of September when he got ill on a flight to link up with Zambia during the international break.
The former RB Salzburg midfielder was taken to hospital in Bamako before returning to Brighton to undergo further cardiac tests that showed discovered he had a hereditary heart condition.
Mwepu joined Brighton in 2021 from RB Salzburg and went on to make 27 appearances, scoring three goals.
Before moving to Europe, Mwepu enjoyed a spell at Zambian first-division side Kafue Celtics, where he starred by scoring seven goals in 29 appearances.
He was a regular for the Zambia national team after making his debut in September 2017.
