Mark Noble will become West Ham’s new sporting director

Mark Noble will become West Ham’s sporting director early next year.

The former midfielder, 35, who has spent his entire 18-year career with the Hammers, will occupy a newly created position.

His duties include supporting manager David Moyes, working with the club’s board of directors and issues such as academy development, player recruitment and staff welfare.

Noble said: ‘I’m very happy to be back and can’t wait to get started. I would like to thank the Club for giving me the opportunity – it is a great honor for me to take on this role at West Ham United.

“Having spent the last 24 years here as a player, first in the Academy and then in the first team, I clearly have a deep knowledge and understanding of the club.

‘During my playing career I mainly strived for constant improvement, on and off the field.

“That became even more important to me when I became captain of the club in 2015, and the last seven years have given me so much experience and preparation for the next phase of my life and career.

“The last two years in particular, when my playing days started to naturally diminish, gave me a fantastic opportunity to really spend some time educating myself and gain more knowledge and understanding of the work behind the screens takes place.

“This club has made fantastic strides during that period and I am really looking forward to returning at such an exciting time.

‘I see it as a position in which I can grow and develop both personally and professionally. There are always difficult decisions to be made in football, but together with my colleagues at the club I will continue to put the interests of West Ham United first.

“The past two seasons have been a time of great progress and I want to help us continue in the right direction.

“I believe in the ambition of the board and I am excited to help build the success that has been achieved so far.

“I feel like it’s a great opportunity for me to make a real contribution and help the Club in a number of different ways, and I can promise everyone in the West Ham family that I will give absolutely everything I have.’

Noble’s primary focus will be on helping players make it through the academy to learn club values.

He traveled to the United States earlier this summer to take a leadership course in entertainment, media and sports at Harvard Business School.

The Hammers have had a disappointing start to the season on the pitch, having won just one of their first seven Premier League games and are in the relegation zone going into the international fortnight.

Manager Moyes said: ‘I am very pleased to welcome Mark back and to have the opportunity to work closely with him again.

“He has been a great asset and strength to me as a player and captain, and I know he will once again give fantastic support to the Club and myself in this role.

“As Mark has said, it is an opportunity for him to develop and grow in the position and he will have our full support in doing so.

“There is no one better qualified when it comes to understanding West Ham United and its ethos, and bringing new ideas to move the club in the right direction.

“I know from my dealings with Mark throughout his time as a player – and especially as we went through the immensely challenging COVID-19 pandemic – that he has all the necessary skills and attributes, and the right personality and character, to become a huge success in this role.’

Co-Chairman David Sullivan said: “On behalf of everyone at West Ham United, I would like to say how pleased we are that Mark has accepted the offer to return in this new and exciting role.

He was and will always be part of the fabric of this football club. Mark rightly wanted to spend some precious time with his family after 18 years of non-stop dedicated service as a player, but there was never any doubt that he would return to a higher position in the near future.

“He is already familiar with every aspect of the organisation, he personally knows all the staff who work here in all departments, and he always puts the best interests of the club at the heart of everything he does.

“He will help create a new strong link between the football operation and the wider club, and he will continue to be a great asset to West Ham United.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we wish him all the best and look forward to seeing him continue to represent West Ham United with passion, dedication and style.”