PORTSMOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB

In March 2023, Zesh Rehman was appointed first team development coach after impressing on a temporary basis back in January following the departure of Danny and Nicky Cowley.

Zesh joined Pompey as Lead Professional Development Phase Coach at the start of the 2022/23 season, having played professionally over the course of a 21-year career.

This includes over 500 games across both the top-four professional leagues in England and 10 years playing professionally across Asia. Rehman has also represented Pakistan at international level.

A current holder of the UEFA Pro Licence, Zesh also holds a Sports Management Bachelor’s Degree along with founding his own Foundation - Zesh Rehman Foundation.

During his time in Hong Kong, Zesh was also U18s coach at KC Southern District in the Hong Kong Premier League, finishing as FA Youth Cup and League winners. This led to progress onto more senior roles at KC Southern District including First-Team Development Coach and two further seasons as Player/Head Coach in the Hong Kong Premier League too.

Zesh also became the first British-Pakistani senior coach in English professional football and Pompey's first South Asian coach at first team level in the club’s history earlier over a period of the 2022/23 season.

Following the departure of Danny and Nicky Cowley in January 2023, Zesh stepped up to help the first team on a temporary basis, before remaining in the post when John Mousinho took over as head coach.

As a result of the success he has had during this period, he has now joined Mousinho within the first-team staff and his backroom team on a permanent basis since March 2023.