Norwich City set to name Dean Rastrick as new academy chief

Rastrick, who spent 13 years in North London, ending as academy manager, looks set to succeed Steve Weaver at Carrow Road barring any late hitches. 

Norwich have gone through a thorough process since Weaver’s departure from the club earlier this summer, ending a seven-year stint in charge of their academy under previous sporting director Stuart Webber. 

They advertised publicly and attracted a range of candidates but Rastrick has emerged from the process, led by Ben Knapper, as the frontrunner and the person best placed to led the strategy on developing young talent with a renewed focus on getting academy players into Johannes Hoff Thorup’s first team. 

Rastrick, originally from Suffolk, worked at Norwich as assistant academy manager to Ricky Martin between July 2006 and June 2010 before moving to Spurs, where he remained until vacating his post in June 2023. 

Prior to his spell at Norwich, Rastrick worked as head of youth development at Derby County and as a youth development officer at Luton Town. 

Since leaving Spurs, Rastrick has worked for DNA Sports Consultancy and with Double Pass Master Class.

Last December, Rastrick joined the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC) as a leadership and management auditor - a role that included making four-day visits to clubs to assess leadership and management, coaching, performance support, education, player care, safeguarding, medical and emotional wellbeing.

Rastrick will be tasked with the development and strategic plans for the playing talent in City’s grade one academy. 

Sporting director Ben Knapper has led the process to find Steve Weaver's successor. (Image: Denise Bradley/Newsquest)

It is an incredibly important role at City, with Rastrick set to work closely with Knapper and Thorup to shape the future of their young talent. 

In the statement announcing his departure from Tottenham, they credited him with overseeing the 'development of a large number of players who have progressed to enjoy careers in the Premier League, European football and the wider professional game', as well as adding that he 'provided the academy with a clear strategy, leadership and vision to ensure we operate at the forefront of youth development'. 

Striker Errol Mundle-Smith announced via his social media channels on Friday that he penned a new deal, with others, like Harry Brooke, set to follow suit in due course.