First Team Coach departs

Gallen has been with QPR for 19 years

Club pays tribute to his passion, commitment and enthusiasm throughout his time at Loftus Road

STEVE Gallen has left QPR after 19 years of employment with the club.Gallen was named First Team Coach under former Head Coach Chris Ramsey in the summer of 2015, but the appointment of new Manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has seen a restructure of the First Team coaching staff.Director of Football Les Ferdinand told: “We are sorry to see Steve leave. As is common with First Team football, a manager likes to bring in his own people.“I have been in dialogue with Steve for several weeks as we sought to find him a role within the academy set-up, which is where a vast amount of his experience lies.“Unfortunately we have been unable to offer Steve a role which he felt was right for him.“Steve has been a huge part of this football club and we thank him sincerely for the incredible contribution he has made over the past two decades. We wish him every success in the future.”Gallen’s coaching career with QPR began when he joined the club as a 23 year-old in 1997 to work in a part-time capacity with our under-12 age group.It wasn’t long before Gallen moved up to coach the under-16s, and he spent a further four years with this age group before being offered a full-time role by the club in 2007, going on to work with the under-18s.Throughout this period, Gallen worked with QPR youth product Raheem Sterling, who would go on to join Liverpool in 2010 at the age of 15.Eighteen months later, Gallen was named the club’s Head of Youth Development.Gallen even enjoyed a brief spell as caretaker manager of the First Team. Following Jim Magilton’s departure from the club in December 2009, Gallen oversaw QPR’s 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion.In 2014, Gallen was named Under 21s Head Coach before Ramsey appointed him First Team Coach last summer.During his time at QPR, Gallen won the FL Youth Alliance Cup (2010), FL Youth Alliance League (2011, 2012), the Professional Development League Two title (2013) and the Newark International Soccer Classic (2013) with the under-18s.With the under-21s, Gallen reached the Professional Development League Two Play-Off final in 2014.Everyone at QPR would like to thank Steve for his incredible passion, commitment and enthusiasm throughout his time at the club, and wish him every success in the future.