Tony Parks
Goalkeeping Consultant

A highly regarded goalkeeping coach who has worked with and helped to develop some of the most talented goalkeepers in the country as a coach with Tottenham Hotspur FC, Aston Villa FC, Norwich City FC and the England national youth squads.

Progressed from a successful playing career in England and Scotland to coaching and education with the FA, playing a pivotal role in the refinement of the learning pathway for goalkeeping coaches while also working with young internationals from U16 to U21 level.

Moved into club coaching with Tottenham in 2008 and built eight years’ experience working in the Premier League, winning the FA Licensed Coaches Club’s 2013 Goalkeeper Coach of the Year award as well as leading the training of international goalkeepers such as Hugo Lloris, Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan and John Ruddy.

Provides a knowledgeable and assured point of leadership within a management team, focusing on not only the preparation of players for the specific demands of each fixture, but also strategic goalkeeper recruitment, development of young players, and the ongoing improvement of coaching standards at all levels of a club.

Qualifications/Accreditation

  • UEFA Goalkeeping A Licence 2015
  • The Football Association
    Advanced Youth Coaches Award (APL) 2014
  • The Football Association GTT Tutor Training Course 2004
  • The Football Association Goalkeeping A Licence 2002
  • UEFA B Licence 2001 / UEFA A Licence 2002
  • Scottish Football Association Coaching Certificate 1999

Career History

  • The Football Association Coach Educator 2002 – Present
  • Aston Villa First Team Goalkeeping Coach 2015 – 2016
  • Norwich City FC First Team Goalkeeping Coach 2014 – 2015
  • Tottenham Hotspur FC First Team Goalkeeping Coach 2008 – 2014
  • The Football Association National Goalkeeping Coach 2002 – 2008

Key Achievements

  • Won the FA Licensed Coaches Club’s Goalkeeper Coach of the Year award in 2013 (voted on by fellow coaches)
  • Joined Aston Villa with Tim Sherwood in February 2015 with the club sitting 18th in the league, helping them secure their Premier League status while also reaching the final of the FA Cup for the first time since 2000 after a 2-1 win against Liverpool
  • Finished in the Premier League top five for four consecutive seasons with Tottenham from 2009/10 to 2012/13, finishing 4th in 2009/10 and 2011/12 to qualify for the UEFA Champions League (unable to participate in 2012/13 due to Chelsea’s UCL win
  • Reached the quarter-finals of the 2010/11 UEFA Champions League with Tottenham – beating Inter Milan home and away (including a notable 4-3 victory at the San Siro) in the group stages to win the group; then knocking out AC Milan in the round of 16
  • Runners up in the 2008/09 League Cup with Tottenham, losing on penalties against Manchester United
  • Played a key role in the recruitment of current French international captain Hugo Lloris to Tottenham after recommending his potential to integrate with André Villas-Boas’s system through his distribution, speed and ability on the ball
  • Helped to significantly turnaround the performance of Heurelho Gomes following a difficult period to start his Tottenham career, focusing on the improvement of not only his goalkeeping ability but his confidence and mind-set
  • Coached several notable players at youth level for England, including Joe Hart, John Ruddy, Tom Heaton, Paul Robinson, Chris Kirkland, Wes Foderingham, David Button, Jason Steele, Alex Smithies and Jed Steer
  • The U17s and U19s qualified for every European Championships tournament from 2002 – 2008, with the U17s reaching the final in 2007 against Spain and the U19s reaching the final in 2005 against France
  • The U17s qualified for and reached the quarter-finals of the 2007 FIFA U17 World Cup
  • The U20s qualified for the 2003 FIFA U20 World Cup
  • The U20s qualified for the 2003 FIFA U20 World Cup
  • The U16 schoolboy team won or were joint champions in every Victory Shield tournament from 2002/03 to 2007/08
  • Worked alongside Martin Thomas to design and implement a significant portion of new content for the FA’s newly created goalkeeping coaching awards