--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-06-09T18:36:59.450Z last_updated: 2026-06-09T08:29:40+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/stoke-city/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3Rva2VzZW50aW5lbC5jby51ay9zcG9ydC9mb290YmFsbC9mb290YmFsbC1uZXdzL3N0b2tlLWNpdHktY29hY2gtbWF4LXBvcnRlci0xMTAwNDgzNA --- # Stoke City set to complete Mark Robins' coaching team with Arsenal stalwart - **Source:** - **Published:** 9 Jun - **Club:** Stoke City - **Original URL:** https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-coach-max-porter-11004834 Stoke City are hoping to bring in Arsenal under-21s boss Max Porter as a new first team coach. Stoke have had to be patient after Arsenal's late end to the season but Porter is expected to soon join manager Mark Robins, assistant James Rowberry, coach Ryan Shawcross and keeper coach Darren Behcet at Clayton Wood. It will fill a vacancy created when joint-assistant Paul Nevin left the club in February. Porter, aged 38, had a 13-year career as a midfielder in the EFL, most notably as captain at Newport County as they won promotion from the Conference and established themselves back in League Two. He joined Arsenal's youth set-up in 2017, initially as part-time under-9s coach, and has gradually moved through the ranks as under-14s head coach, lead phase development coach, under-18s assistant, under-17s head coach and under-21s assistant before taking over in charge of the 21s last summer. FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest Stoke City news, analysis and more via the Sentinel "I've been here eight years, and I've worked with the under-9s part-time, all the way up to this role now," he said in August. "I think we're an academy that develops young people and players to hopefully play for our first team and come through. "But also, we develop staff. So I'm glad that it's part of my journey as well, to be able to come through and have the opportunity I've had at Arsenal. I feel privileged, and I'll do the best job possible for the players because that's what they deserve." Academy manager Per Mertesacker said: "Max has got the qualities needed to be a successful leader and coach. The environment he creates for staff and young players is always one of high challenge and ultimate care. Max is driving the highest standards and is a brilliant colleague and coach." Porter reflected at the end of the season, his ninth year at the club, that the Arsenal academy had produced six first team debuts and the youngest average team in Premier League 2, as well as "successful EFL loans" and "successful permanent transfers". Those statistics included first team debuts for 16-year-olds Max Dowman and Marli Salmon, 17-year-old Brando Bailey-Joseph and 18-year-olds Ife Ibrahim and Andre Harrison-Annous, as well as one Jaden Dixon, who was signed from Stoke in January. Loans included youth captain Louie Copley joining Crawley Town and winger Ismeal Kabia, at Shrewsbury Town. Porter wrote on social media: "As an under-21s head coach it can be a tough challenge to balance the ever changing schedule, supporting first team training and preparation but most importantly making sure to develop every individual within the team. When you see some of these young players truly maximise their ability and achieve incredible goals in their careers it makes it all worthwhile." Porter also received his Uefa Pro Licence coaching badge from the FA of Wales. It continues Stoke's pretty significant work behind the scenes during the off-season, with Damian Roden already returning as head of medical and performance, Stuart Harvey arriving as technical director. Jack Higgins will join as academy director and a restructure of the under-21s set-up is due to be announced. Do you wish any were still at Stoke? Click HERE to join the debate We have launched a WhatsApp group to deliver the latest Stoke news directly to your phone. Click the link select 'Join Chat' and you're in. If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community, you can leave at any time by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and clicking 'Exit Group', simple as that. Every day, The Sentinel football desk strive to deliver news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Stoke City content. Our dedicated reporter Pete Smith - who you can follow on X - follows Stoke home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between. If you prefer reading our Stoke stories on your phone, consider downloading The Sentinel app, in which you can personalise the content you see by selecting Stoke City as one of your designated topics. You can get it from Apple