Paul Ashworth


Paul Ashworth is a former English footballer and manager, and current executive director of FC Astana.
Ashworth had previously played at youth level for Norwich City before setting up PASS Soccer Schools, a national company. He later worked for Cambridge United and Peterborough United before moving to Latvia where he managed FK Ventspils, FK Riga and Skonto Riga as well as taking over at Russian side FC Rostov as Sporting Director. He worked as a Technical Director in Nigeria from May 2010 - 2014.
He was Manager/Technical Director at Sunshine Stars Football Club, a Nigerian premier league team for 6 months before moving back to FK Ventspils as Head Coach.

Playing career

Paul came through the youth system at Norwich City where he played for the side at schoolboy level. He didn't make the step up to the first team though but began to coach the youth teams at the club.

Youth coaching career

Soccer Schools

While Ashworth was at Carrow Road, he set up his own company, PASS Soccer Schools.

Cambridge United

In 1992, Cambridge United offered Ashworth a role as youth development officer at the club’s Abbey Stadium.

Managerial career

FK Ventspils

In a league dominated by multi-championship winning side Skonto Riga, Ashworth secured two consecutive runners-up finishes, a Latvian Cup triumph and steered his squad into the UEFA Cup for the first time. In subsequent seasons, they also played Finnish side HJK Helsinki, Swiss outfit AC Lugano

FC Rostov

Having previously been unsuccessfully interviewed for the vacant managers position at Russian Premier League club FC Rostov, Ashworth was approached by the president of the club offering him the position of Sporting Director. He accepted the role and was responsible for all of the football side of the club such as youth policy, transfer policy, dealing with visas and international players, research and building of new training facilities as well as liaison with the manager on first team matters. After taking charge temporarily for two matches, he became the first Englishman ever to coach in the Russian Premier League.

Skonto FC

It was during this period that he was described as "The Mourinho of Latvia" as a reference to his ability as a top coach despite not having played professionally in senior football

Kwara Football Academy

In 2009 Ashworth moved to the position of Technical Director of Nigeria's only residential football academy, The Kwara Football Academy. Based in Ilorin, it takes talented youngsters from the ages of 13 to 21 and trains them as professional footballers while allowing them to get educated at the same time. Ashworth now has a staff of nine coaches and more than eighty full-time staff under his tutelage and has developed excellent facilities and training programmes

FC Astana

On 14 January 2019, FC Astana announced the appointment of Ashworth as their new executive director.