Sources: Marcus Bignot agrees Birmingham City coach deal
Marcus Bignot has agreed a deal to become Birmingham City's new Under-18s coach, sources have told Football Insider.
The 51-year-old former right-back left his post of assistant manager at Swindon Town in May, and is now set to return to the club where he managed Birmingham City Women for several years.
The move comes after the Blues announced the appointment of Scott Sellars as their new 'senior pathway to professional and under-21s coach' on Friday.
Sources say that Bignot has accepted an offer to become the Under-18s lead academy coach.
Bignot was an assistant at both the U18 and U19 levels for England between 2019 and 2021, with senior roles at Cheltenham Town and Shrewsbury Town following.
Before that, the former defender enjoyed roles in non-league with Guiseley and Chester, spending almost four years in charge of the latter.
The ex-QPR player has previously expressed his desire to one day manager at the highest levels.
Marcus Bignot to take next management step
As a player, Bignot began his career with Kidderminster, before joining Crewe Alexandra in 1997.
The defender would go on to feature for the likes of Bristol Rovers, QPR and Millwall, ultimately ending his career with Brackley.
Bignot racked up hundreds of appearances in the Championship and League One, making almost 400 in total.
His journey into management started well before that, however. At the age of 24, the defender managed Birmingham Women and led them to the top flight of women's football.
Bignot returned to the team in 2021, but was sacked less than a year later after he was found guilty and suspended for the usage of homophobic abuse.
Roles at Cheltenham Town, Shrewsbury Town and Swindon Town followed, with his most recent tenure lasting almost two years.
Bignot aiming to 'manage higher up'
Bignot will likely hope the role at Birmingham can spring board him into a different job, and has been done before.
Wilshere managed Arsenal's U18s from 2022 to 2024, before he was appointed assistant manager at Norwich City, before taking over as Luton Town's manager.
Speaking almost 10 years ago, in 2016, Bignot, manager of Solihull Moors at the time, said: "I want to manage higher up one day, but I want to do it the right way."
The Blues may well offer him the chance to do exactly that, as they look to provide their talent pool with the right guidance.
