Former Norwich City goalkeeper Declan Rudd has taken a role in the club’s academy following his retirement earlier this year.   

Rudd returned to Colney in July to work with City’s goalkeepers as part of his Uefa B coaching course, but is now a permanent member of staff after being appointed as lead academy goalkeeping coach back in September.

 

The Norfolk-born keeper will be working with City’s upcoming shot-stoppers and playing a major role in their development through the academy. For Rudd, it means his career has come full circle having graduated from the Canaries’ youth programme.  

The ex-Preston North End shot-stopper was forced to call time on his playing career aged just 31 in March following a knee injury that required several operations over an 18-month period. 

"As soon as the news came out that I was having to retire, Stuart (Webber) was straight on the phone and said 'get yourself in'," Rudd told City's official channels. 

"To begin with, it was to observe training so I wasn't just sitting at home thinking about what happened. At the time, my knee was still really bad so I couldn't do much coaching but as time has gone off, I've started doing a bit more. 

"Then the opportunity came along to help out in the academy. I've felt so welcomed from the beginning and working with the players here is really good. It's an enjoyable place to work and it's changed so much since when I was here - it's something really quite special now."

It spells a return to the club he began his professional career with, making his professional debut against Gillingham in 2009 following Fraser Forster’s dismissal. His full debut arrived three days later when Paul Lambert’s side beat Leyton Orient 4-0 at Carrow Road.  

He went onto make 35 appearances for the club in all competitions, with 14 of those games arriving in the Premier League.  

The Pink Un: Rudd announced his retirement aged 31 earlier this year. Rudd announced his retirement aged 31 earlier this year. (Image: PA Images)

Loan moves with Preston and Charlton followed before he signed permanently at Deepdale in 2017 for an undisclosed fee.  

Across his three spells in the north west, Rudd made 196 appearances but was advised not to return to professional football after recurring setbacks with his knee.  

Following that decision, he returned to Norfolk and began work on his coaching badges, leading to his first opportunity at Norwich.  

Young goalkeeper Caleb Ansen, who penned his first professional deal at Norwich on Wednesday, is one of the stable of keepers that Rudd will be tasked with developing.