Coaching Career
Upon returning to England in November 1983, Whelan continued to coach young players part-time on Manchester City's Community Football Programme between 1987 and 1990. In September 1990, he was invited by Brian Kidd to join Manchester United's Centre of Excellence as a coach, and joined the full-time staff in September 1998 when the Academy was established. His time as a player included, Whelan has been involved with the club for over 20 years.
Over the years, Whelan has gained several coaching qualifications, as well as a Bachelors degree in humanities from the Open University, and a Masters degree in sociology from Manchester Metropolitan University. He also wrote the foreword to The First Black Footballer: Arthur Wharton 1865-1930 An Absence of Memory (1998) and is the author of The Birth of the Babes: Manchester United Youth Policy 1950-1957, which explores the impact of youth development and the building of the Busby Babes side at Manchester United.
In March 2008, The Voice included him on a list of the 30 most influential black people in English football in recognition of his work developing elite young players. In October 2008, he received an award at the House of Lords from Kick It Out acknowledging his inclusion in the list.
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