Charlie Daniels has returned to football with a youth coaching role at Premier League side Fulham. The former Watford interim head coach left the Championship club at the end of last season and will now work with the Cottagers' academy.
Daniels told the Fulham website he was excited by the move. "I'm really excited to be joining Fulham," he said. "This is a club with a fantastic reputation for developing young players and providing a pathway into first-team football."
The 39-year-old former Bournemouth left-back had been at Watford since 2021, initially coaching the Under-18s and Under-21s. He stepped up to take temporary charge of the first team in February following Javi Gracia's resignation. His two matches as interim boss ended in a 0-0 draw at Hull City and a 1-0 defeat at Southampton. He then worked as part of Ed Still's backroom staff for the remainder of the campaign.
After leaving Vicarage Road in the summer, Daniels held talks with several League One clubs about head coach positions. He was a candidate for the Oxford United job that eventually went to Aaron Ramsey. His new role sees him take charge of Fulham's youth side for an EFL Trophy tie away at Leicester City on Tuesday night.
Daniels also highlighted the developmental focus of his new position. "This is a great opportunity to work with talented young players at such an important stage in their development," he said. He added that he is passionate about preparing players for the demands of senior football, a process that can be tracked through the club's detailed stats and squad pages.
His departure comes as Watford handle a difficult start to the Championship season. The Hornets sit 20th in the standings with just eight points from their opening eight games. Their recent form shows one win in their last five matches, a run that includes consecutive defeats to Bristol City and Stoke City. The club's current situation is further complicated by a number of key injuries.
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