After retiring as a player, Atherton transitioned into coaching and worked as a youth coach at Wigan Athletic. He later joined Bolton Wanderers as the head of the club’s academy in 2016 before becoming the assistant coach of the first team in 2019.
After retiring as a player, Atherton transitioned into coaching and worked as a youth coach at Wigan Athletic. He later joined Bolton Wanderers as the head of the club’s academy in 2016 before becoming the assistant coach of the first team in 2019.