Former Birmingham City defender resign and becomes first coach

George Friend spent three years at Birmingham City, making over 50 appearances before departing to join Bristol Rovers last summer.

Former Birmingham City defender George Friend has retired from football with immediate effect to become the new director of football at League One club Bristol Rovers.

Friend, 36, made 52 appearances for Blues between 2020 and 2023 after signing a three-year contract with the club under Aitor Karanka.

Friend, a former left-back who eventually became a centre half, accompanied Karanka to Blues from Middlesbrough, where they had previously coached together.

Friend played one game shy of 300 for Boro while on Teesside. He had previously played with Doncaster Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

After leaving last summer, Friend was used rarely under John Eustace last year, with his final game coming in a 1-0 win at Millwall last April.

Friend was signed by Bristol Rovers and then manager Joey Barton, who has since gone and been replaced by ex-Rotherham United manager Matt Taylor.

Friend had appeared for the Gas 12 times this season, the most recent of which came in a loss at Burton earlier this month.

However, an opportunity arose in the boardroom at the Memorial Stadium as part of a recruitment department restructure, and Friend – who made over 500 appearances in his career spanning nearly 20 years – has been appointed director of football, where he will work with Taylor to help recruit players in the future.

“I’ve learnt something from every single person on my journey,” he added. “I’d like to thank everyone who helped me accomplish more than I could have ever imagined. Teammates, employees, managers, owners, and supporters.

I am now driven and ambitious to excel in my work here at Rovers. It is where I began my football career as a child, and it feels quite appropriate that it is where I will end it.”