Kem Izzet enjoyed a long and productive career as a professional footballer.

Now the former Colchester United captain is channelling his efforts into helping others tread their own path in the game.

Izzet, 34, has been busy coaching budding young players in the region, as part of his own flourishing soccer academy.

The tenacious midfielder, who left the U’s in 2013 after playing 473 games for the club, fronts structured coaching sessions for youngsters ranging from two to 14 years old.

The sessions take place at the Garrison on Mondays and in Lawford on Fridays.

And Izzet, who now plays for Ryman League outfit Needham Market, also heads into the region’s schools to pass on his expertise and knowledge to fledgling footballers of all abilities.

Izzet said: “It’s great to put something back into the game - I don’t know anything else.

“Football for me wasn’t a job - it was a passion.

“I was lucky that I got paid for it and if I can coach kids who might feel the same in the future, it’s just as rewarding as playing.”

Izzet is academy manager with the Football Careers Centre (FCC), an independent company which aims to help talented young footballers turn professional.

He has been working in partnership with the FCC’s head of recruitment Jon Willis, who also scouts for Norwich City.

They hold sessions once a week on the hockey pitch at the Garrison, in addition to coaching at Lawford Lads FC.

Izzet has also coached at the likes of Tendring Primary School, St Andrews and Greenstead Academy, over recent months.

The former U’s favourite, who started his career at Charlton Athletic, says he would love to help set talented young players on their way to making it into the professional game.

“I feel like we’ve achieved a lot, in a short space of time,” said Izzet, who has also been appointed head coach of Needham Market’s new second Elite Player Development Programme which launches in Brantham this summer.

“We’re scouting a lot of our players and 80 kids between five and 14 have been scouted.

“One’s been offered a place at Colchester United’s academy and we’re hoping more will follow.

“We’re trying to give them some extra coaching and push them into pro clubs if we can.

“We also work in lots of schools and the ones that we’ve worked in are fantastic.

“The ultimate for us would be to help someone to get a pro contract.”

The Kem Izzet Soccer Academy offers coaching for children and teenagers of all abilities.

For more information, visit the Kem Izzet Soccer Academy on Facebook or follow @fcc_fa on Twitter.

For all of the latest Colchester United news, see the Daily Gazette.