Brighton and Hove Albion FC announced on December 30, 2022, that they had appointed retired 24-year-old Zambian midfielder Enock Mwepu as their under-9s coach at the club’s academy.
According to the club, Mwepu, their former player who was forced to retire from playing football after being diagnosed with a hereditary heart condition, will continue working at the club’s academy starting this year.
Roberto De Zerbi, the head coach of Brighton’s men’s first team, and Paul Barber, the club’s chief executive and deputy chairman, all gave Mwepu their support for the academy coaching role as a gesture of goodwill while he recovers and enrolls in a coaching school.
The former Zambia National team captain is now expected to earn around half a million Zambian kwacha as an academy coach per year.
Mwepu, who joined the Seagulls from Austrian giants FC Red Bull Salzburg on a permanent transfer in 2021 for an undisclosed fee, made £30,769 a week during his time as a player at the club and an annual salary of £1,600,000, according to Spotrac, a UK-based sports team and player contract resource website.
Although his earnings may now decrease, he is still projected to make roughly £29,250 annually (K632,835.83), which is the average pay for a football coach in the United Kingdom.
As Mwepu gains professional coaching credentials, his pay as an academy coach is also anticipated to rise.
The Zambian was given a job-on-training by Brighton, and because he has subsequently enrolled in coaching school, he will be promoted after he earns his coaching certification.
Additionally, sources told BolaNews that Brighton wants Mwepu to mature and become a top-tier coach who would eventually manage their youth or even senior team in the future; therefore, they will equip him with every tool necessary to help him succeed in his new coaching career.
