FORMER Coventry City captain Liam Kelly has returned to the Sky Blues to manage the club’s under-21s team.
Kelly made more than 150 appearances for Coventry during a seven-year spell from 2017 to 2024.
The 36-year-old won promotion in his first season with the club as Coventry triumphed in the League Two play-off final.
The midfielder then captained the Sky Blues to the League One title in the 2019/20 season.
And he also captained Coventry in the 2022/23 Championship play-off final at Wembley as the Sky Blues suffered a cruel penalty shootout defeat against Luton Town.
Coventry released Kelly at the end of the 2023/24 season after he scored three goals in 180 appearances for the club.
He spent the last seasons with Rotherham United but following his release by the Millers at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, Kelly has now returned to the Coventry Building Society Arena.
The club have confirmed Kelly’s appointment means former academy boss Mark Delaney has left Coventry after almost three years with the Sky Blues.
Kelly said: “I’m delighted to be back at Coventry.
“This club means a lot to me. I have some fantastic memories of being a player here and I enjoyed some fantastic moments with the people I worked with and the supporters who backed us here in my time.
“I’m really excited about getting to work with the under-21s and the academy and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue my journey.
“Coaching is something I’ve been preparing for as a player. Working with the under-21s is a brilliant opportunity to help develop talented young players and support them through an important stage in their careers.
“I want to help develop players who are ready to take the steps into the first team. That’s the ultimate aim of any academy and something I’m passionate about.
“I would like to create an environment where players enjoy coming in every day, work hard and challenge to develop the habits they need to have successful careers.”
Coventry’s sporting director, Dean Austin added: “We’re delighted to have Liam here to work with our young players.
“He has all the attributes to be a top coach. He’s a scholar of the game and he’s Coventry through and through.
“It’s a great moment for us to bring a legend back to the club, it’s the right thing for us, the right thing for him and we’re pleased he will be taking that next step in his career with us.”
