Lee Baxter new goalkeeper coach
Lee Baxter new goalkeeper coach

Posted in News, Team News on Feb 12, 2018.

Kaizer Chiefs have appointed Lee Baxter as the new head of the goalkeeper coaching department. “I am looking forward to the challenge,” he comments after having signed a contract that runs until the end of the 2019/2020 season. “Chiefs have a very professional set-up. It’s an inspiration to be here.”

Lee is the son of former Amakhosi coach Stuart Baxter. He takes over the vacant post which was held by the Brazilian Alex Revoredo, who passed away in August last year.

Baxter will not only work with the first team, but also with the development structures. This means that he will work closely with the other two goalkeeper coaches at the club, Brian Baloyi and Rory Minnaar.

“We welcome Lee into our Kaizer Chiefs Family,” reacts Football Manager Bobby Motaung. “Coaching goalkeepers is a very specialised field. Lee is young, ambitious and he will bring a lot of international experience. Roping Lee in is part of the bigger picture of developing goalkeepers for the future. We are looking forward to this partnership which will take our youth development structures to greater heights.”

The 41-year-old Baxter was born in Helsingborg, Sweden. He was on the books of several (mostly English and Swedish) clubs over the years as the goalkeeper. To name a few – Blackburn Rovers, Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan), Glasgow Rangers (Scotland), AIK Solna, Malmö FF and IFK Gothenburg.

One of the highlights of his career is coming on for Swedish side AIK Solna during an UEFA Champions League match against Arsenal. “That was a magnificent experience,” he reflects.

Lee became a goalkeeper coach after his playing days. His first club was AIK Solna, followed by stints in Turkey (Gençlerbirliği), South Africa (SuperSport United) and Denmark (AGF Aarhus).

He was the goalkeeper coach of SuperSport United when they won the 2016 Nedbank Cup. “I participated in the Nedbank Cup with SuperSport and the team won it,” Baxter comments with a smile on his face, “I would like to keep that record.” Chiefs qualified for the Nedbank Cup Last 16 after beating Golden Arrows on Sunday and therefore still have an outright chance to win this trophy.

While training the goalkeepers at SuperSport United, Baxter obviously got to watch other ‘keepers in the PSL, including our own Itumeleng Khune and Brilliant Khuzwayo. “It’s great to have an opportunity to now work with them.”

Baxter signed his contract at Chiefs Village today. “Kaizer Chiefs’ facilities are on par with the top professional clubs in Europe,” he points out. “I have been at several European clubs, but they don’t all have training pitches of the quality that Chiefs have.”

On his goals to achieve at Amakhosi, he says: “I want to win silverware as that’s what Kaizer Chiefs is all about. The club should at least win one trophy every season and I would like to contribute to accomplishing that.”

 

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