John is U's new boss.
Colchester United are pleased to announce the appointment of John McGreal as the club's new First Team Coach.
John brings with him vast experience of the professional game, having enjoyed a 17 year playing career with Tranmere Rovers, Ipswich Town and Burnley, playing over 400 games before hanging up his boots in 2007.
His time at Rovers was part of a successful time at Prenton Park, with Rovers winning promotion, reaching the play-offs three times and getting to the semi-finals of the League Cup in his stint there.
During his time at Portman Road, he helped Town to promotion to the Premier League, going up via the play-offs with a 4-2 win over Barnsley.
Joining the U's in 2009 as part of the coaching staff at the club, he progressed to become U21s manager, helping them to an impressive fourth placed finish in this year’s Development League Table.
An uncompromising centre half, John has brought that defensive nous to his role in the U's academy.
His young U's combined a swashbuckling attacking style with a defensive fortitude that saw them keep ten clean sheets in 29 league games.
His young U's combined a swashbuckling attacking style with a defensive fortitude that saw them keep ten clean sheets in 29 league games.
His coaching has also helped provide a springboard into senior football for a number of the U's academy graduates and the last couple of years have seen the likes of Frankie Kent, Tom Lapslie, Kane Vincent-Young, Sammie Szmodics, Macauley Bonne, Femi Akinwande and Louis Dunne all make their first team break through.
He will now make that step up himself as he looks to make the U's a force to be reckoned with in League Two next season.
He will now make that step up himself as he looks to make the U's a force to be reckoned with in League Two next season.