Latest news with #LeeCongerton
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Milan Reach Out to Ex-Atalanta Exec and Juventus Head
Milan have broadened their scope to find a new apical director and added two more candidates to their shortlist: former Atalanta exec Lee Congerton and Juventus chief Cristiano Giuntoli. The former has jumped into pole position, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs. The official spent two years in Bergamo, contributing to the acquisitions of Ademola Lookman, Ederson, and Rasmus Hojlund. He left in January 2024 and joined Al-Ahli shortly thereafter. The 51-year-old got his start behind the desk at Hamburg in Germany. He then moved to the United Kingdom, working for Sunderland, Celtic Glasgow, and Leicester City. Milan will announce their new front-office addition soon after the season finale, with Congerton ahead of Igli Tare in the brass' preferences, while it'll be challenging to poach Tony D'Amico from La Dea, and Giuntoli politely declined their approach, Corriere della Sera reports (via Mediaset). The exec was recently confirmed by the Juventus CEO. He's under contract for four more years and earns €2M. It has taken so long that only luring somebody from another team could justify it. Those switches happen at the end of the campaign. It's tough to know who does what at Atalanta from the outside, as he wasn't the sporting director there and had top-end colleagues. It's tricky to get out of Saudi contracts, but he might have been there for long enough. Reaching out to the Bianconeri official was worth a shot, as they are quick to dismiss people when things aren't going well. They'd actually need somebody who can shoulder a lot of tasks like him, but he has little reason to jump ship willingly, especially to head to a team in worse shape.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Zico has his say on Hatate future
Brazil legend Zico believes Reo Hatate would flourish in Italy after the Celtic midfielder was linked with a move to Udinese. (Sunday Post via Glasgow Times, external)Former Celtic head of recruitment Lee Congerton is set to become the sporting director of AC Milan after working with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli for the last 14 months. (Football Italia), externalRead the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Calhanoglu to Lookman: Most impressive deals involving Milan-linked Congerton
Former Atalanta, Chelsea, Leicester City and Hamburg executive Lee Congerton is the current favourite to take over as sporting director of Milan according to reports in Italy. Here is a look at the most impressive deals the Welshman has pulled off in his career to date. Who is Milan-linked Congerton? Congerton is a football executive with coaching, scouting and directorship roles on his CV from a career that has lasted over 25 years. Advertisement He began as a youth team director for Wrexham before joining Liverpool in a coaching capacity under Gerard Houllier in 2002. Congerton also spent six years with Premier League side Chelsea, initially under Jose Mourinho as head coach and Frank Arnesen as sporting director. He would later follow Arnesen to Hamburg, where he was credited with identifying the talent of current Inter star Hakan Calhanoglu. Congerton has also worked for various other clubs across the UK, including as a sporting director for Sunderland, as chief scout for Celtic and again in the same role for Leicester City between 2019 and 2022. The 51-year-old also has experience working in Serie A from his two years as director of football with Atalanta between 2022 and 2024. Reigning African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman is among the players he is credited with having signed in Bergamo. Advertisement He is now tipped to become the sporting director of Milan, a role which has also seen the likes of Fabio Paratici, Igli Tare and Tony D'Amico linked in recent months. Which players has Congerton signed? Having largely worked in scouting and directorship roles throughout his career, Congerton has been credited with identifying a number of high-profile talents, including Lookman at Atalanta, his teammate Ederson and Rasmus Hojlund, who raised well over €50m in profit for La Dea after his big-money move to Manchester United. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 13: Rasmus Hojlund of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Manchester United and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Old Trafford on March 13, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by) Lookman is a player Congerton has worked with twice previously, having also signed him on loan while employed by Leicester in 2021-22. Advertisement The Foxes finished fifth in the Premier League during Congerton's first season in 2019-20, a season which most notably brought the €45m arrival of Youri Tielemans from AS Monaco. Samuele Ricci and Youri Tielemans Italy-Belgium EPA-EFE/ETTORE FERRARI Wesley Fofana, who joined Leiceted for around €35m the following season, was later sold to Chelsea for a staggering €80m fee two years later. Congerton was working as chief scout at Celtic when the Scottish giants signed Odsonne Edouard for a €10m fee. He would go on to join Premier League side Crystal Palace for a €16m fee in the final year of his contract. Congerton also signed current Juventus and USMNT winger Timothy Weah for Celtic on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in 2018-19. Advertisement Inter star Calhanoglu was among Congerton's most high-profile signings with Hamburger SV in 2012-13, along with Rafael Van der Vaart from Tottenham. Jonathan Tah and Christian Norgaard were among the youth players promoted to the first-team during Congerton's spell as technical director. MILAN, ITALY – MAY 06: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale (L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Marcus Thuram (R) during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by) At Chelsea, Congerton was largely tasked with identifying young players from the youth ranks and prepare them for life in the first-team, including the likes of Ryan Bertrand, Daniel Sturridge and Fabio Borini.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Milan turn to ex-Chelsea, Liverpool and Atalanta executive for sporting director role
Former Liverpool, Chelsea and Atalanta executive Lee Congerton is now the frontrunner for the vacant sporting director role with Milan according to various outlets in Italy on Sunday morning. Milan have been looking to appoint a new sporting director for most of the 2025 calendar year. Advertisement The Rossoneri had been close to an agreement with Fabio Paratici before seeing that move fall through due to legal complications. Igli Tare, formerly of Lazio, Tony D'Amico, currently with Atalanta, Bologna's Giovanni Sartori and Napoli's Giovanni Manna are among the other names to be linked with the job. LEEDS, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 26: Tottenham Hotspur Director of Football, Fabio Paratici looks on during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road on February 26, 2022 in Leeds, England. (Photo by) However, with no official agreements with any of their previous candidates, Milan have now trend their attention in the direction of Congerton, who has been working as sporting director for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli for the last 14 months. According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport and others, Congerton is now the 'frontrunner' for the Milan sporting director role. The Pink Paper adds that the Rossoneri still have alternative options to evaluate and that a final decision is expected to be made soon after the close of the 2024-25 season. Who is Milan-linked Lee Congerton? Congerton began his career as an executive with Wrexham, serving as youth team director before going on to join the coaching staff at Liverpool in 2002 under Gerard Houllier. He has also worked as a youth team coach under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, before being appointed as chief scout at Stamford Bridge. Advertisement The Welshman followed former Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen to Hamburger SV in 2011, where he went on to identify and sign current Inter star Hakan Calhanoglu. MILAN, ITALY – MAY 06: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale (L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Marcus Thuram (R) during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by) Congerton has also worked for various other clubs across the UK, including as a sporting director for Sunderland, as chief scout for Celtic and again in the same role for Leicester City between 2019 and 2022. The 51-year-old also has experience working in Serie A from his two years as director of football with Atalanta between 2022 and 2024. Reigning African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman is among the players he is credited with having signed in Bergamo. @Atalanta_BC Most recently, Congerton has worked for Saudi Pro League side and recent AFC Champions League winners Al-Ahli, where he is credited with having signed star players in Galeno and Ivan Toney.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lee Congerton leading race to become Milan's next sporting director
Serie A giants Milan have faced struggles in finding a new sporting director and now, Lee Congerton is leading the race to take over the role. La Gazzetta dello Sport have reported that the Welshman is the sort of profile that Milan are looking for and he is now the main candidate to become the Rossoneri's next sporting director. Advertisement He has discovered the likes of Hakan Calhanoglu and Ademola Lookman in the past and during his time at Atalanta, he also played a role in Rasmus Hojlund's major sale to Manchester United. He has excellent relations with multiple English clubs as well. As a result, he is the profile that Milan are looking at, even though there are a range of alternatives. Congerton, if he joins, will have to take some major decisions at the Rossoneri, who have several contract scenarios that can impact them a lot next season.
