Former Crystal Palace assistant manager, Keith Millen, has recently taken on a new role as the head coach of non-league team AFC Croydon Athletic. The team, which competes in the Isthmian League South East Division, is owned by Wilfried Zaha, a well-known figure in the football world who is currently on loan with Lyon from Galatasaray, as well as Croydon-born rapper Stormzy.
Millen has a rich history with Crystal Palace, having served as an assistant manager under Ian Holloway starting in 2012. He also had three caretaker spells at Selhurst Park and was part of the coaching staff during Neil Warnock’s and Alan Pardew’s managerial stints. However, he left the club in 2017 when Sam Allardyce took over as Eagles boss.
In addition to his time at Crystal Palace, Millen has also had coaching stints at other clubs such as Milton Keynes, Carlisle, and Gillingham. The new head coach will be working with former Palace players Luke Dreher, Brandon Pierrick, Nya Kirby, and David Omilabu, who are now part of the AFC Croydon Athletic team.
Reflecting on his decision to join the non-league side, Millen shared, “I’ve worked with Wilf when we were at Crystal Palace together. That was probably the main reason for joining. I’m a Croydon boy anyway. Crystal Palace is my team, but after that, Croydon is my area. So that got me interested.”
Millen also mentioned that the new role aligns well with his current position working with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) in the region. “When I took that job, I said I still wanted to coach myself. That’s my real love. This role being part-time fits very well with my PFA work and is a great opportunity for me to work with players that I’ve worked with before,” he added.
The appointment of Keith Millen as head coach brings a wealth of experience and a deep connection to the local community to AFC Croydon Athletic. With his background in coaching and his ties to Crystal Palace, Millen is well-equipped to lead the team and guide them to success in the upcoming season. Fans of both Crystal Palace and AFC Croydon Athletic will be eager to see what the new head coach brings to the table and how he can help the team achieve their goals.
