Impressive Edwards an exciting pick for new era at The Den

Coach leaves his England role for life with Lions

- Dan Kilpatrick and Nizaar Kinsella

JOE EDWARDS is a risky but exciting pick as Millwall’s new manager.

The 37-year-old will take charge of his first senior match when the Lions travel to rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, but he joins the club with a growing reputation as an impressive young coach and a network of contacts across the game described by one insider as “ridiculous”.

After being released from Chelsea’s academy at 16, Edwards felt lost, but was invited back to the club to start his coaching badges, becoming a full-time coach at just 19. He led Chelsea’s youngsters to back-to-back FA Youth Cups in 2015 and 2016, and was promoted to the first-team set-up during Frank Lampard’s first spell in charge.

He stayed on under Thomas Tuchel and was part of the coaching team when the club won the 2021 Champions League, before joining Lampard at Everton and later taking charge of England Under-20s on an interim basis.