Joe Edwards: Millwall name former Chelsea and Everton assistant as head coach

Millwall have appointed former Chelsea and Everton assistant coach Joe Edwards as their head coach.

He was in Frank Lampard's backroom staff at both Premier League clubs and has been in interim charge of England Under-20s since August.

Edwards, 37, takes over at the Championship club from Gary Rowett, who left by mutual consent on 18 October.

Millwall are 18th in the table, having picked up just two points from four games since his departure.

Rowett held the position at The Den for four years, guiding them to top-half finishes in each season, but was unable to secure a play-off berth.

The south-east London side had been considering former Southampton and Luton boss Nathan Jones for the role, but Edwards will now take charge of the team for the first time at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Edwards has brought in Andy Myers as his assistant while Adam Barrett - who had been caretaker manager after Rowett's departure - and fellow coach Andy Marshall will stay on as part of the backroom team.

"Although I have been coaching for a long time, a lot of people will be aware that this is my first job managing as head coach," Edwards told the Millwall website. , external

"Throughout the years, at various levels, you think you would like to have the opportunity to make the step up.

"To do it at a club like this, to be head coach of Millwall Football Club - I don't take that lightly at all. I'm really excited."

Edwards spent 27 years at Chelsea at all, turning to coaching aged 16 after not being kept on by the club as a youth player.

He worked his way up to become Chelsea Under-18 boss for a two-year spell form 2014, where the Blues twice won the FA Youth Cup.

He moved into the senior setup and became an assistant to Lampard and Thomas Tuchel, helping the Blues win the Champions League in 2021, before moving to Everton in January 2022 to link back up with Lampard.

Edwards went on to became England Under-20 boss on an interim basis this year.

"With Joe, I'm excited. He is somebody who I think is very innovative and has some positive ideas about the progression we can make as a club," Millwall chairman James Berylson told the club website.

"It was a thorough process, with no stone left unturned, and Joe was engaging, attentive, and impressive throughout, and I felt that we could have a productive working relationship together.

"We welcome both Joe and Andy to The Den with open arms and look forward to seeing the impact they can make on and off the pitch throughout what we hope to be a long relationship with Millwall."