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Chris Hughton

Coaching Sessions

Four day build up to playing 3-4-3

Formations & Tactics

This session was taken from the four day period between games in our recent international week. In my time as Ghana coach, we have always played with either a 4-2-3-1 formation or a 4-3-3, but after playing our first game of the international week, we had a four day build-up to the second game to prepare to play in a 3-4-3 formation for the first time.

Wide attacking runs and crosses

In Possession

This training session encourages players to make attacking runs in wide areas of the pitch leading to crosses into the penalty area.

Reduced squad training

Skills & Techniques

We all have times when we’re left to train with a depleted squad, but it’s nonetheless important that we make the most of these training days when the group is varied.

Quick counter-attacking

Attacking

The object of this session is to achieve a fast transition from defence to attack. Players tend to enjoy it because it’s performed at a high tempo, and with its fast transitions and its focus on encouraging counter-attacks, it’s very much related to the modern game. It covers all aspects of high tempo training – defenders not only have to defend overloads, but the session is also about winning possession and fast forward passing.

Defensive principles

In Possession

This is all about setting out a defensive mainframe that also focused on the important aspect of transitions because, as a team, you want to attack and score goals, yet you know that by doing so you will lose possession. So that is when the defensive strategies come into play even more.

Fast passing affecting change of play

Skills & Techniques

This session looks at the benefits of quick passing and switches of play.

Position specific development

Formations & Tactics

This exclusive session by Chris Hughton could be run on a weekly basis, or it could be linked to a tactical focus for an upcoming game.

Biography

It was with Tottenham Hotspur that Chris Hughton first took to coaching. Between 1993 and 2007, Hughton served as a coach and then assistant manager. He enjoyed two spells as caretaker manager at White Hart Lane, and he also assisted Brian Kerr with the Republic of Ireland national team.

He joined Newcastle United as first team coach in 2008 and following their relegation he became caretaker manager. He led Newcastle back to the Premier League as champions, securing the manager’s job on a permanent basis along the way.

Joining Birmingham City as manager in 2011, Hughton guided the Blues to a fourth place finish in the Championship and led them through their first European campaign for 50 years. After narrowly missing out on a place at Wembley for the play-off final, he was appointed manager of Premier League Norwich City.

Joining Brighton & Hove Albion midway through the 2014–15 season, he secured the club’s place in the Championship and then took the team to a third place finish, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion to the Premier League on goal difference. He successfully achieved the feat a year later, leading Brighton to promotion as runners up and to the club’s first season in the top flight of English football since 1983.

He has been voted Championship Manager of the Year twice: in 2010 while at Newcastle and in 2016 for his work at Brighton. He is currently the manager of Ghana’s national team.

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