September 4 2019

Shaun Derry

Former Crystal Palace midfielder Shaun Derry has returned to the club as professional development coach at the Academy.

Derry first joined the Eagles in 2002 and he was part of the team that won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs two years later.

He came back to Selhurst Park in 2007 and helped the financially-strapped side secure their Championship status on the final day of the 2009/10 season.

Palace say his role "will see him work alongside older age-group players aiming to ease player progression from Development to senior football".

"It means the world to me," he told the Palace website. "This is a club that gave me a brilliant opportunity as a player, as a 24-year-old and I spent two or three years here, experienced some brilliant highs and some lows along the way.

"Then coming back as a 30-year-old as a different type of player and again witnessing some incredible moments. I can tell a story to the younger players and hopefully that will be valuable for them."