Former Leyton Orient manager Omer Riza has joined Watford’s academy set-up as a coach.

The part time role is Riza’s first in the game since he left Orient last year and will see him work with the Hornets’ under-15 and under 16 sides.

Riza worked within Orient’s academy set-up previously, working closely with the club’s under-16s and 18s, before stepping up to become the O’s assistant manager after Danny Webb’s appointment in January 2017.

But the former Arsenal and West Ham forward would take over the managerial reigns in tough circumstances for the final seven games of the 2016/17 campaign, but couldn’t prevent the O’s from being relegated from the Football League for the first time in 112 years.

The 38-year-old had to contend with a number of issues during his time in charge of Orient, with the O’s future looking increasingly uncertain under former owner Francesco Becchetti.

But Riza was credited with bringing a number of young players through the ranks at Brisbane Road, with the likes of Sandro Semedo, Steven Alzate, Tristan Abrahams and Victor Adeboyejo all flourishing under the 38-year-old’s stewardship.

Abrahams, Adeboyejo and Alzate have since gone on to forge careers in the Football League, with the latter currently on loan at Swindon Town, having been snapped up by Brighton and Hove Albion last year.

Riza left Brisbane Road following Nigel Travis’ takeover in East London last summer, after the O’s decided to appoint Steve Davis as their new head coach.

Prior to his coaching career, Riza came through the ranks at Arsenal before going on to have spells with West Ham, Cambridge United, Denizlispor and Trabzonspor during his time as a player.