Oporto Sports is delighted to announce that we will be representing Charlton Athletic U21s head coach and England pathway coach, Chris Lock.
Chris joined Charlton in 2018, and over the next five years worked with ages 13 to 18, helping to develop players to progress through the club’s academy system.
In 2023, he assisted Oporto clients Michael Appleton and Richard O’Donnell as first-team coach, while remaining as head coach of the club’s U21s side.
In 2024, Chris became assistant coach for England U20s, working under Paul Nevin and Kevin Nolan for a three-month interim period, where they remained unbeaten in the U20 Elite League competition. Chris was then named as assistant coach for England U17s, qualifying for both the World Cup and European Championships. He is currently working with England’s U18s squad and coached at the recent U17s World Cup in Qatar, and in March 2026 he will be assistant coach of England U20s.
As a player, Chris began at Crystal Palace in their academy, before signing a scholarship and eventually a professional deal with Fulham, during Jean Tigana’s time at the club.
In 2015, Chris founded his own club, Carpe Diem FC, which is based in South East London, offering children academy quality coaching at grassroots level. The club has taken ten squads to Europe over a three-year period, and has seen multiple players sign for professional clubs since its inception.
Away from football, Chris became a firefighter in 2006 with the London Fire Brigade and worked his way up to the rank of an incident commander, dealing with emergencies, a role he held for over 19 years.
Speaking about the announcement, Oporto director Dean Eldredge said: “Chris is a very talented young head coach, working within a well-respected academy, and his abilities have been recognised as he has been given the opportunity to work for The FA, and coach some of the best young players in the country.
“Chris has a wealth of coaching experience across all age ranges, including first-team, and is qualified up to UEFA A Licence level. He is a strong communicator, has an excellent track record of developing players and leading staff, and displays an infectious, positive personality.
“We are delighted to be representing Chris, and look forward to supporting him as he strives to achieve his ambitions in the game.”
For all enquiries for Chris Lock, please email dean@oportosports.com
