Charlton Athletic accidentally changed Jason Euell's life with one Paul Hart proposal | OneFootball

Paul Hart inadvertently changed Jason Euell's life in the summer of 2012 with an offer to take up an underage coaching role at Charlton

There was once a time when Charlton Athletic were a Premier League force under Alan Curbishley, finishing as high as seventh in the top-flight during the 2003/04 season.

However, following relegation in 2006/07, the club has struggled to find a standing in either the EFL Championship or League One. In fact, they have spent periods at both levels before either progressing or regressing.

Charlton haven’t been a real regular in the second tier since the period from 2012 to 2016, when the team earned promotion from League One under Chris Powell.

But it was their then academy director, Paul Hart, who had a surprisingly deep impact on Jason Euell’s life during this period, after the attacker had played his role in the club’s promotion to the Championship.

How Paul Hart changed Jason Euell’s life

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Euell had been part of that Premier League journey with Charlton in the early 2000s, signing from ADC Wimbledon in a club-record deal worth a reported £4.75m. He was the club's top goalscorer in three consecutive seasons, including notching 10 as Charlton finished seventh in the Premier League.

However, Euell would leave Charlton in 2006 after 'struggling to impress' Ian Dowie at the Valley and join Middlesbrough. That, though, wasn't the end of his association with the Addicks.

Euell made his return to Charlton in the summer of 2011 following his release from Blackpool, coming back to the club after his exit in 2006.

He made just 11 appearances in League One in 2011/12, but he was part of the squad that won promotion to the Championship.

The now 49-year-old was set to be released by the Addicks following the expiration of his contract.

And he has opened up on this portion of his career, claiming that he was ready to seek a new club elsewhere, with a view to continue playing until he was 40.

However, Paul Hart, who was the academy director at Charlton, reached out regarding a role at the Valley instead, and that led to him becoming a coach at underage level with the Addicks.

And while he still hoped to keep playing while being the club’s U16 head coach, he was told he had to give the side his full attention, which led to him hanging up his boots.

“I did pluck up the courage to ask [Hart ] the question, ‘Can I still keep on playing?’ But Paul was unequivocal with a firm but friendly ‘no’!” said Euell, via the Premier League’s website.

“He said, ‘Jason this is serious stuff and a really important position within the Academy, I need you to give it your full attention.' I didn’t hesitate to agree, as it was such a fantastic opportunity.”

Jason Euell’s coaching career

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Euell took over the Charlton U16 team for the 2012/13 campaign following the unlikely offer from Hart.

The 49-year-old had spent the previous years working on his coaching badges, and was ready to take the step into underage management.

And by September 2013, he was put in charge of the U21 side after his positive work with underage players.

During his time with the Addicks, he worked with players such as Joe Gomez, Ademola Lookman, Joe Aribo and Kasey Palmer.

Euell continued working at underage level with the London outfit for several years, and was promoted to first team coach on a permanent basis in April 2021, a position he held until June 2022.

The former Charlton star has also worked as a first team coach at Bristol City under Nigel Pearson, where he spent over a year of his career.

Euell was an assistant head coach at Cambridge United following his exit from Ashton Gate, and is currently a first team coach at Preston North End.

Perhaps he will make the step-up to a head coaching role in the future, as he continues to build a promising CV under Paul Heckingbottom.