Info on the team of four working with our new Manager
- Learn more about Darren Moore’s technical staff
- Jamie Smith, Jimmy Shan, Simon Ireland, and Adriano Basso
- Ireland played for the Terriers in the mid-nineties
New Huddersfield Town Manager Darren Moore has brought a trusted team of four to add to our existing support staff around the First Team.
Assistant Manager Jamie Smith, First Team Coach Jimmy Shan, Set Piece Coach Simon Ireland, and Goalkeeping Coach Adriano Basso have all worked with our new boss at previous clubs, adding to their vast experience across football as players and technical staff.
Learn more about the new team below…
JAMIE SMITH – ASSISTANT MANAGER
Jamie, 49 was born in Birmingham and enjoyed a high-level playing career as a right back before turning his hand to coaching.
Coming through the youth system at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Jamie turned professional at the club and played over 100 games for the club under the likes of former England boss Graham Taylor.
That earned him a move to Premier League Crystal Palace, where he played for seven seasons – for a time under another England manager, Terry Venables.
Jamie spent 2004 to 2006 as a Bristol City player, which included a short spell on loan at Brentford, before he spent a season with Milton Keynes Dons in 2006/07.
A knee injury curtailed his professional playing career, although he played in non-league for Halesowen Town and Airbus UK whilst working on his coaching qualifications.
Smith started work with the West Bromwich Albion Academy soon after, beginning as youth development officer before being promoted to Under-18s Coach in 2016. He then became the Baggies’ Under-23s lead coach in June 2018.
Jamie worked with Darren Moore during this time, and followed Darren to Doncaster Rovers in 2019, becoming his Assistant Manager. He moved with Moore again in March 2021 to be his assistant at Sheffield Wednesday, where the pair led the side to promotion to the Sky Bet Championship.
JIMMY SHAN – FIRST TEAM COACH
James, 44, is also from the Birmingham area, and started his coaching career at a young age with Birmingham City’s Academy.
He worked across all age groups before moving across the city to join West Bromwich Albion in 2006, starting with the Under-7s and working through the age groups to reach the Under-23s.
He joined West Brom’s First Team coaching staff under Darren Moore in 2018, working with our new manager as they almost staved off relegation from the Premier League despite it looking certain when they took over.
Jimmy took over as Caretaker Manager when Moore left for 12 games, leaving when a new manager was eventually appointed and taking over as Interim Manager at Kidderminster Harries for 11 games before taking the opportunity to move up the football pyramid to take over at Solihull Moors. He was in charge at Moors in 2020/21, where Kyle Hudlin was one of his players.
Jimmy was Assistant Manager at Rochdale in 2021/22, but soon rejoined Moore’s coaching staff at Sheffield Wednesday for their promotion season.
SIMON IRELAND – SET PIECE COACH
Simon, now 51, is no stranger to Town, having started his playing career with us!
Although he was born in Barnstaple, Simon joined us as a schoolboy in 1989 and progressed to make his debut for the club under Eoin Hand in March 1991, coming on for Garry Haylock in a 3-1 win over Crewe Alexandra at Leeds Road.
A speedy wide midfielder, Simon was on the edge of the First Team squad over the next two seasons as one of several talented youngsters, alongside current Town Ambassador Andy Booth! He made 12 starts and 11 substitute appearances for the team, with one of his last – a scoring appearance in a 4-3 League Cup defeat at Blackburn Rovers – catching the eye of Kenny Dalglish and earning him a move to our top division opponents.
Simon also played for Wrexham, Mansfield Town, and Doncaster Rovers, where he was a teammate of Darren Moore.
His coaching career started in January 2008 when he joined the Blackburn Rovers Academy, aged 36, as Assistant Director responsible for the 8-12 age groups. He progressed to work with the Under-18s, where he once again worked in proximity to Moore, who was employed as First Team Coach.
Ireland joined Brighton & Hove Albion as Under-21 Manager in August 2013 before three years at Queens Park Rangers as Head of Coaching.
Simon then joined Nottingham Forest as First Team Coach, working under both Aitor Karanka and Martin O’Neill, before rejoining Moore at Sheffield Wednesday in August 2021.
ADRIANO BASSO – GOALKEEPING COACH
Brazilian Basso, 48, played as a goalkeeper, starting in his home county for Ponte Preta and Atlético Paranaense before moving to England.
After a trial with Arsenal, he started in non-league with St Albans City and Woking before joining Sky Bet League One side Bristol City in 2005. It was with City that he had his best years, quickly establishing himself as their first choice and playing a big part in the side that won promotion to the Sky Bet Championship and went very close to Premier League promotion soon after.
His five-year spell at Bristol ended when he joined Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers, with a spell at Hull City following. Several spells at non-league clubs preceded his coaching career, which began at Hartlepool United in 2017.
Adriano spent the 2018/19 season coaching at Nuneaton Borough and Grantham Town, with spells at Bury and Barnsley as Goalkeeping Coach higher up the leagues. He then joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2021 to work with Darren Moore.
