Motherwell FC is today delighted to confirm the appointment of Jim Hollman as the Club’s new Goalkeeping Coach.
Jim, 37, started his coaching career with the Ipswich Town Academy in 1998 before taking on the Senior Goalkeeping Coach job at East Anglian neighbours Norwich in January 2000, aged just 21 years old.
After reaching the Play-offs in his first season, Norwich won the 2003/04 Championship title with goalkeeper Robert Green conceding the least goals in the league. He and Norwich then enjoyed a season in the Barclay’s Premier League for the 2004/05 campaign.
He was at Carrow Road for over seven years before a short stint with Cambridge United between January and June 2008. He helped the Club reach the 2007/08 Football Conference play-off final but was quickly tempted back to East Anglia and a return to Portman Road with Ipswich Town.
He was part of the coaching team that guided Ipswich to the 2010/11 League Cup semi-finals, beating Arsenal 1-0 in the first leg but his three-year stay with Town would come to an end when Malky Mackay prized him away to form part of his coaching set-up at Cardiff City in July 2011.
[pullquote]It was a combination of a highly regarded manager, a great group of staff and an Scottish Premiership club with the history and reputation of Motherwell that meant I couldn’t turn it down.[/pullquote]
Cardiff made they Play-offs in his first season, before eventually winning the Championship in 2013/14 season, with Jim helping David Marshall keep the second best defensive record in the league that year, earning the Coach another stint at the Premier League.
Throughout his coaching career he played a key role in the development of a number of goalkeepers who have gone on to receive significant international and domestic recognition such as David Marshall, Tom Heaton, Asmir Begović, Richard Wright, Rob Green, Matt Gilks and Darren Ward.
Jim replaces Gordon Marshall, who left the club last week to take up a similar role at Aberdeen Football Club.
Speaking to motherwellfc.co.uk, Jim said: “I’m delighted to take on the role at Motherwell.
“I was approached by the manager when the position became available and he invited me to visit the club to meet him and his staff.
“I knew Ian had a hugely successful time with Sligo and I also knew he had a very good reputation within football.
“It was a combination of a highly regarded manager, a great group of staff and an Scottish Premiership club with the history and reputation of Motherwell that meant I couldn’t turn it down.”