Mark Alleyne: Gloucestershire appoint former all-rounder as head coach for second spell

Mark Alleyne's most recent spell at Gloucestershire was as assistant coach in 2021

Club legend Mark Alleyne has returned to Gloucestershire as head coach on a three-year-deal.

The 55-year-old featured in nearly 800 matches for the club during a 19-year playing career and previously coached Shire from 2005 to 2007.

Alleyne was Glamorgan's white-ball coach last season and also coached the England Twenty20 side on their 2022 tour of the West Indies.

"I'm feeling truly blessed to be given the opportunity," he said.

Alleyne is Gloucestershire's most decorated player with nine trophies and a County Championship promotion to his name and he also won 10 one-day international caps for England.

"Gloucestershire is a county I have many happy memories of from my playing days," Alleyne added.

"I have gained lots of experience, and I'm hoping the skills I've picked up along the way will allow me to have a positive impact on the team.

"I know a lot of the players already. There is a really exciting blend of youth and experience at Gloucestershire and that's why when the opportunity came up, I didn't give it a second thought."

The all-rounder scored 14,214 runs and took 407 wickets across 314 first-class matches for Gloucestershire as well as hitting 7,825 runs and claiming 393 wickets in 413 List A [limited-overs] appearances.

Both remain club records in List-A cricket and there is even a mural of Alleyne at Gloucestershire's Seat Unique Stadium.

"It is absolutely fantastic to welcome Mark back to the club," said Shire chief executive officer Will Brown.

"He has a long and glittering history of winning trophies here at Gloucestershire and is just as hungry for success now as a coach as he was during his playing days."

Captain Graeme van Buuren added: "Mark's knowledge of the game is amazing and he's achieved great things here as a player, so all of us are really excited to begin working with him.

"One thing Mark knows how to do is win and I'm sure the lessons he has learned over the years will be invaluable to us."