Adam Thorley is a key figure who has returned to Derby County in a new role as head of technical development for the under-nines to under-16s age groups. He brings with him over 16 years of coaching experience within Category 1 Academies, having worked at clubs like Chelsea, Derby County, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
During his initial tenure at Derby from 2010 to 2021, Thorley served as an under-18s coach and played a significant role in nurturing young talents through the academy ranks. Notable players developed under his guidance include Kaide Gordon, who is now at Liverpool, and Liam Delap, who currently plays for Manchester City.
Thorley spent nearly three years at Stamford Bridge as a lead under-15s coach before returning to Derby County. His expertise and experience in developing young players have been described as “highly rated,” making his return a valuable addition to Derby’s academy setup.
Derby County’s academy holds Category One status and is known for producing talented youngsters, with players like Max Bird, Eiran Cashin, and Louie Sibley making strides in the first team after progressing through the youth ranks. The clear pathway to first-team football and the club’s commitment to youth development have also been attractive factors for young talents like Cruz Allen, who opted to sign a new contract despite interest from bigger clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea.
With an impressive roster of emerging talents like Dajaune Brown and Jake Rooney, combined with experienced coaches like Thorley, Derby County’s academy is poised for continued success in nurturing and developing the stars of tomorrow.
Adam Thorley helped develop Kaide Gordon
In February 2021, Liverpool captured winger Kaide Gordon from Derby for around £1 million, with fees rising to £3 million in the future.
Gordon joined the club at under-nine level and became one of Derby’s youngest players ever, making his debut at the age of 16 in a 4-0 win over Birmingham City.
Although shortly after appearing from the bench, he was courted by the top clubs and Liverpool won the race for his signature.
Thorley, who was Derby’s under-18s coach at the time, was responsible for Gordon’s development.
Having joined the Reds over three years ago, the 19-year-old has been hailed as “special” by manager Jurgen Klopp while featuring just seven times for the first team, scoring once.
Although Gordon is playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, he’s currently stuck in the academy and needs to play regular minutes in a senior team.
Nonetheless, Thorley was responsible for his seamless transition into the Derby first-team initially and it’s a massive boost to have him back at the club.
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