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Keith Andrews gives his first sit down interview as Brentford’s new head coach

Keith Andrews gives his first sit down interview as Brentford’s new head coach, as replacement for the departed Thomas Frank.

It’s quite an appointment that many fans weren’t expecting to happen as Thomas Frank left for Tottenham, Andrews, 44, promoted from being the Bees’ set-piece coach.

He had been part of their coaching staff since July 2024, with Director of football Phil Giles praising Andrews for his compatibility, openness, and respect among players and staff, noting his clear vision and potential to evolve the team while building on Thomas Frank’s foundations.

Andrews, who has helped achieve one of the Premier League’s best set-piece records, expressed humility and excitement about leading Brentford, emphasising a dynamic, competitive, and organised playing style that reflects the club’s culture and fan expectations.

The aim is to develop both young and experienced players, leveraging his strong connection with the squad.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Brentford are delighted to announce the appointment of Keith Andrews as head coach.

Andrews takes on the role having been part of the Bees’ first-team coaching staff since July 2024.

“Keith is a very good fit,” said director of football Phil Giles.

“He gets on with everyone, he’s very open and he’s a learner. Keith is clear in what he wants, he’s detailed, and the players and staff like and respect him.

“He understands the players in the building and the way we’ve played and trained under Thomas Frank.

“Keith will bring his own evolution but isn’t starting from scratch, so hopefully we can make some quick progress.

“He’s a very good coach and has clear ideas about how he wants the team to improve. We were looking for somebody not just to maintain what we’ve been doing but actually try and get better.”

Assistant first-team coach Justin Cochrane, head of athletic performance Chris Haslam and first-team analyst Joe Newton joined Frank at Tottenham Hotspur.

On these vacancies, Giles added: “There’s been a lot of work going into what the team around Keith looks like. How do we take what we had last year and get better? That process is ongoing.

“We have to look at the blend of skills and experience. It’s an exciting project to have these roles open together.

“We’ll build it over time and learn about strengths and weaknesses. We’ll build it step by step and get the right balance.”

Andrews joined Brentford as set-piece coach in July 2024, departing Sheffield United where he had been part of the coaching set-up under Chris Wilder.

Prior to that, the 44-year-old was assistant manager to Stephen Kenny during the Dubliner’s three-year spell as Republic of Ireland boss (2020-2023) and served as MK Dons’ assistant manager for the 2015/16 Championship campaign.

A midfielder, Andrews represented the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hull City, MK Dons and Blackburn Rovers during a 16-year playing career which began in 1999.

Andrews earned 35 caps for Republic of Ireland and featured at UEFA Euro 2012.

Asked how he felt about being the man to lead the Bees, Andrews said: “Pretty humbled would be the overriding feeling, honoured that I’m the person that’s been chosen to take the club into the next chapter.

“I’m very appreciative of the owner, the board and the staff that have supported this decision. It’s an opportunity I feel I’m very capable of doing and ready to do.

“I don’t know where to start in terms of what’s exciting me because there’s so much: the potential of the football club, the potential of the players and the potential of the staff that underpin what has brought success to this brilliant football club.”

Andrews continued: “It’s an amazing place to be and I’ve felt that for 12 months now. That will remain. It’s really important to me to have that vibe around the football club, that energy.

“There are a lot of words that are preached in sporting environments, like culture, and they’re not lived, whereas they are lived here on a daily basis. I think it’s really important to keep that humility that we have as a football club and continue to grow.”

In his previous role at the club, Andrews helped the team secure one of the best set-piece records in the Premier League both offensively and defensively.

The former midfielder revealed what he will be expecting from his side for next season and beyond.

“I want a team that the fans feel represents them and what they want to see on a Saturday,” he explained.

“We want to play winning football, we want to be competitive, we want to have an edge, we want to play dynamic, relentless football but we want to be organised.

“We want to have huge moments, huge games, and I think the big one is that we want to have an attitude and a relentlessness of progression. We really need to maintain that, and that’s on a daily basis.

“If you do that, the rest looks after itself.”

On the subject of progression and development, Andrews added: “It’s a massive advantage to know the players inside out, I’ve got a really good connection with the players. The ceiling is massive in terms of what we can achieve and I’ve got so much belief in them.

“I love being on the grass, I love developing young players, I love seeing the growth in young players as players and as human beings. There’s clear alignment between myself and the football club on that.

“There will be a clear plan to try and develop our talented young players and also our older players, because development doesn’t just stop when you get to a certain age; it’s for every single player, and we’ll support them in every single way we can.”

Andrews addressed the Brentford supporters: “I’m humbled to be the new head coach of an amazing football club that’s touched me in a lot of ways.

“I love it here, I love coming in every single day, and I will give absolutely everything to continue the success of this football club.”

Giles said in his interview: “With Keith being an internal appointment and promotion, the thought process about how to replace Thomas started many years ago.

“When we replaced Dean Smith, we had Thomas lined up. While we never promised him the job, we had the idea that Thomas could potentially take over from Dean.

“It’s the same principle here. When we appoint coaches, we always have an idea about whether they could potentially step up.

“When we became aware that Tottenham were interested in Thomas, we had a more detailed process, speaking to our staff but also arranging to speak with some people externally.

“That process started before Thomas had even formally left because we knew the direction of travel.”

Asked about the qualities Andrews will bring to the role, Giles responded: “Keith is a very, very good person. He has good values and fits our culture well. He gets on with everyone, he’s very open and he’s a learner.

“He joined us a year ago as set-piece coach because he wanted a new experience. He wanted to be at our club and to learn. That says a lot about him.

“He’s also covered many other parts of the game so he’s well qualified to do the job.”

Giles continued: “Keith is a very good coach. He’s done very well with our set-pieces this year. The defensive side, particularly, was very good for us.

“He’s got very clear ideas about how he wants the team to improve. As a leader, he’s a very good communicator. He’s very clear in what he wants, he’s detailed, and the players and staff like and respect him. He’s a perfect fit for what we were looking for.

“He understands the players in the building: what motivates them, what they like and don’t like, what they can and can’t do.

“He understands the principles and the way we’ve played and trained under Thomas. He will bring his own evolution but it’s not starting from scratch, so hopefully we can make some quick progress. We’re not trying to change everything and go in a totally different direction.

“It’s all about the details – we’re not looking to revolutionise. Small detailed changes. That can be aligned to changes in personnel, which happens every summer. That provides another opportunity in terms of changing the way we want to play.”

Assistant first-team coach Justin Cochrane, head of athletic performance Chris Haslam and first-team analyst Joe Newton joined Frank at Tottenham.

On these vacancies, Giles said: “There’s been a lot of work going into what that team around Keith looks like. How do we take what we had last year and get better?

“That process is ongoing. We have to look at the blend of skills and experience. It’s an exciting project to have four roles open together.

“I’m not sure we’ll hire four people on one day; we’ll build it over time and learn about strengths and weaknesses. We’ll build it step by step and get the right balance.”

Fans reacted after Keith Andrews gives his first sit down interview as Brentford’s new head coach…

@TheStatsSaint: Best of luck lads, hopefully won’t see you in the championship next year.

@rianmbfc: How incredibly exciting and ambitious!

@Ji349fi: I will reserve judgement until he’s actually managed a game for us. Benham is demonstrably good at running a football club and making decisions, so I’m inclined to back Chief Keith until I have a reason not to.

@fifferh: Okay I’ve said my piece a thousand times now as have many others. No it’s not inspiring, we know absolutely nothing about him, but I hope he proves us wrong and I can put my hands up and apologize for not trusting the process. Let’s see what he does in pre-season.

@rianmbfc: Good luck to him, can only hope and pray he has something about him and proves a lot of us wrong. Club will either come out of this looking incredibly good or very very stupid, no In between, hopefully it’s the former not the latter. 🤞

@EllisDennantAV: All the best to him. Likeable fella, always speaks very well as a pundit in the past. Interesting appointment again from Brentford promoting from within, worked last time I guess.

@1889GT: They have got to have been thinking about this for some time. I wanna trust Giles and Benham but my word this feels like a very audacious move and a risky one. #brentfordfc

@fifferh: As my first positive Keith Andrews era tweet I’d like to say this: Hurry up and sign this man the coaching team he needs.

@_RB_Ash: This is and should be a bonkers decision but we all know Keith Andrews is going to come in next season and get Brentford qualified for Champions League football. It shouldn’t happen but Andrews is somehow gonna cook up a storm.

@J_BrentfordFC: Would love to know the other candidates if Andrews was the best of the bunch. Time will tell I suppose. Keith Andrews bumblebees!

@AStrangey: Let’s get fully behind Keith Andrews, I trust our process under Messrs Benham and Giles the year he has had getting to know us, our methods, our players and how we will continue to grow in the Prem is more important than parachuting in a manager from elsewhere 🐝⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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