BURTON Albion are delighted to confirm that Jake Kean has joined Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s backroom staff as our new Head of Goalkeeping.
The 30-year-old joins the Brewers having served his notice at National League side Notts County, where he has spent the last three years as a Goalkeeping Coach while also being registered as a player.
Kean arrives at the Pirelli Stadium following the departure of previous Head of Goalkeeping Andy Quy, who has moved to the United States to take up a role in North Carolina at Charlotte FC.
And the former Derby County and Blackburn Rovers stopper will now work with first-team goalkeepers Ben Garratt, Ellery Balcombe, Callum Hawkins and Kieran O’Hara, while also overseeing the development of the younger keepers coming through the Academy.
Kean began his career as a youth team player at Derby before moving to Ewood Park in 2008, making his Premier League debut for Blackburn against Chelsea in May 2012.
Making 44 appearances for Rovers before leaving in 2015 to join Norwich City, Kean had loan spells at Hartlepool United, Rochdale, Yeovil Town, Oldham Athletic, Colchester United and Swindon Town, amassing more than 100 games in the Championship and League One prior to joining Sheffield Wednesday in 2016.
Two spells at Mansfield Town followed before Kean joined the Magpies in 2019, making his playing debut in Notts’ inaugural FA Trophy game and keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Chesterfield.
Since then, Kean has focused primarily on coaching while remaining registered as a player in case of emergencies for Notts.
“It was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down to join Burton," said Kean. "I really enjoyed my time at Notts (County), but it was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down to work with the gaffer and rest of the staff here.
“I’ve really enjoyed it here over the last couple of days since coming through the door. The players and the staff have been great and I’m looking forward to getting started at Saturday’s game against MK Dons."
On Kean’s arrival, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said: “Jake will oversee the development of the goalkeepers throughout the club and we’re looking forward to working with him.
“He will be making sure that our first team goalkeepers are competing with each other to a high standard and will help with the progression of goalkeepers through the club’s Academy.”