Last night we ran a story on the addition of Chris Morgan to Arsenal’s medical team.
The job title listed on his LinkedIn profile is senior first team physiotherapist and we speculated whether he might be a direct replacement for Colin Lewin who departed the club in May after 23 years at the club.
It now appears that Lewin’s job title – head of medical services – has actually been inherited by Gary O’Driscoll, who has been on the books at the Emirates since 2009.
The Arsenal website currently lists O’Driscoll as the club doctor, but his own Twitter profile, corroborated by this article on Training Ground Guru, states that he heads up a new-look medical department.
O’Driscoll took to social media to confirm Morgan’s arrival and the position he’s taken up.
Huge welcome to Chris Morgan who has joined the First Team as our Head Physiotherapist. Chris has come from Crystal Palace where he was Head of Physiotherapy for the last 2 years. Chris also held the same post at Liverpool for eleven years so brings a wealth of experience to us. pic.twitter.com/EvGRuakP6b
— Gary O'Driscoll (@docgaryod) July 10, 2018
He wrote: “Huge welcome to Chris Morgan who has joined the First Team as our Head Physiotherapist.
“Chris has come from Crystal Palace where he was Head of Physiotherapy for the last 2 years.
“Chris also held the same post at Liverpool for eleven years so brings a wealth of experience to us.”
O’Driscoll also used Twitter to confirm a promotion for Jordan Reece. He’ll now work as a first team physio having cut his teeth with the lads in the Academy.
Another big welcome to Jordan Reece, who has been promoted from Head of Academy Physiotherapy to First Team physiotherapist. Jordan, who achieved a First Class degree in Physiotherapy will be involved in all aspects of player care & head up squad screening and monitoring. pic.twitter.com/F81DD7C6oW
— Gary O'Driscoll (@docgaryod) July 10, 2018
From what we can tell, Arsenal’s first team medical and performance team now comprises:
Director of high performance – Darren Burgess
Head of performance – Shad Forsythe
Head of medical services – Gary O’Driscoll
Strength and conditioning coach – Julen Masach (new arrival)
Senior first team physiotherapist – Chris Morgan
First team physiotherapist – James Haycock
First team physiotherapist – Jordan Reece
First team strength and conditioning coach – Barry Solan
Masseur – Darren Page
Soft tissue therapist – Takahiro Yamamoto
Sports scientist – Tom Allen
Performance nutritionist – Richard Allison
Apologies to any of the above if we’ve got their job titles wrong!
I still can’t get over all the changes that have occurred. I know Ivan was preaching these changes, but I didn’t realize how much he meant them and they weren’t just “P.R. talk”. From the backroom to the players. I remember Arsene being reluctant to bring in more than 3 players in a window.
Times have changed and it’s hard not to be excited. Here’s to hoping they’re for the better.
Totally with you. The catalyst for change continues apace. I.m 100% with it. Ivan for President..or something like that?