Brady to leave Arsenal academy next year

Arsenal have indicated they are anxious to retain the services of Liam Brady in a new capacity after it was announced that the Irish football legend will step down as head of the club’s youth academy in May 2014.

According to the club, Brady, 56, who starred for the Gunners in the 1970s, has “given early notification of his desire to leave his role in order to help recruit a successor and ensure an orderly handover period.”

During his time as Arsenal’s head of youth development and the academy, Brady was responsible for developing numerous professional players including Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Ashley Cole.