Former Mamelodi Sundowns head of academy and methodology, Shawn Bishop, has secured a move to Belgian champions Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
Union SG, as they are relatively known, are the 2024/25 Belgian Pro League champions. It’s also a club that Bafana Bafana forward Percy Tau spent a season on loan in the 2018/19 season from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.
Bishop spent the past season at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, where he also worked with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard. He had a remarkable career at Betway Premiership champions Sundowns, spanning over a decade.
Part of his responsibility was overseeing the Elite Players Programme and Women’s Programme as the Head of Technical Programme.
He also contributed to the Sundowns DDC side as an assistant coach when they clinched the title in the 2017/18 season. In 2017, he further gained experience as the Head Coach for the now-defunct ABC Motsepe League team, M Tigers.
Bishop shared on his social media platforms on Tuesday that he has moved to Belgium.
SHAWN BISHOP JOINS BELGIAN SIDE ROYALE UNION SAINT-GILLOISE
“I’m honoured to share that I’ve joined Royale Union Saint-Gilloise SCRL as the head of methodology and coaching,” wrote Bishop.
“Union SG is a club with a rich history, but what excites me most is its bold vision for the future, commitment to revolutionising youth development and recruitment in Belgian football. This project is deeply aligned with my passion: building sustainable, high-performance environments that nurture both players and coaches,” he added.
“We are going to build ‘The Union Way’, with some of the top talented coaches and leadership in Europe, doing it differently.”
FORMER MAMELODI SUNDOWNS HEAD OF ACADEMY EXPLAINS HIS NEW ROLE
“In this new role, I’ll be working closely with all departments to implement a clear and consistent football methodology across all levels. Elevate coach development through structured support, mentoring and shared learning, create a holistic pathway for young players to transition confidently toward the first team, align recruitment with identity to ensure we attract the right profiles for long-term success.
“Integrate departments to ensure a holistic and player-centred approach and support the transition of talent from academy to first team.”
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