Latest news with #sportingDirector
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Wolves considering bringing in former Al Shabab sporting director Domenico Teti as part of recruitment overhaul
Wolves are considering a role for former Al Shabab sport director Domenico Teti as they overhaul their recruitment department. The future of sporting director Matt Hobbs is in doubt as coach Vitor Pereira is expected to take on a more hands on role at Molineux. Pereira worked with Teti previously in Saudi Arabia. Italian Teti held roles at Verona, Sampdoria, Lugano and Apoel Nicosia prior to joining Al Shabab in 2023. Talks are ongoing with the 48-year old, who left his job as Al-Shabab sporting director in October last year, now in contention to become technical director. Discussions are underway and understood to be progressing. Wolves were dragged into a relegation fight last season but the appointment of Pereira in December as new head coach following the sacking of Gary O'Neil saw the club comfortably avoid the drop. They are close to agreeing the sale of Rayan Ait Nouri to Manchester City and are among clubs to have checked on St Etienne forward Lucas Stassin.
Arab News
27-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Newcastle losing another sporting director as Mitchell to step down
NEWCASTLE: Newcastle are losing another sporting director after the Premier League club announced Paul Mitchell is stepping down next month. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Mitchell took the position only last July following the departure of Newcastle's previous sporting director, Dan Ashworth, to Manchester United. Mitchell was leaving 'due to health reasons' and his departure was 'by mutual consent,' Saudi-backed Newcastle said on Tuesday. There were reports of tension between Mitchell and Newcastle manager Eddie Howe at the start of this season. Newcastle won the English League Cup in March for their first major domestic trophy in 70 years, and finished in fifth place in the Premier League to qualify for next season's Champions League. 'The club are in great hands on and off the pitch,' Mitchell said, 'and are in a fantastic position to continue building. 'I'd like to wish everyone connected with Newcastle United a bright and successful future.' Mitchell previously worked for Tottenham, Leipzig and Monaco.
New York Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Jason Ayto leaves Arsenal after interim spell as sporting director
Jason Ayto has departed Arsenal, where he had been interim sporting director earlier this season. Ayto was promoted to the role on an interim basis after Edu Gaspar resigned from his position in November, having previously been the Brazilian's assistant. In March, Arsenal appointed Andrea Berta to be Edu's permanent successor in the position with Ayto now leaving the club. Advertisement A former scout, Ayto had been with Arsenal for a decade and rose through the ranks to become Edu's right-hand man, leading an overhaul and modernisation of the club's recruitment department. When Edu was promoted to become Arsenal's first-ever sporting director in November 2022, he asked for Ayto to be appointed assistant sporting director. The 39-year-old served an expansive apprenticeship under Edu, working across the men's first team, women's team and academy. He led the co-ordination of scouting and recruitment, and as time went by has been increasingly involved in negotiations over transfers and contracts. In the summer of 2024, he was heavily involved in discussions over the signings of both Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino. When Edu departed, Ayto stepped up as interim sporting director and was part of Arsenal's football leadership team which flew to Los Angeles during the November international break for strategic discussions with the Kroenkes. Since then, he had taken up the baton in talks over the potential signing of Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi. He also led Arsenal's search for a striker in January but ultimately was part of the club's decision to abstain from the market that month. Manager Mikel Arteta has talked up Ayto's abilities. Speaking in November, he said: 'Very good, Jason and all the team. Edu and I probably got a lot of the praise, but the work behind it is done by this guy and Jason has been phenomenal. 'It is not easy to wake up one day and having to move to a different office and do a different job, like it was for the team. 'But again, the spirit, how people react, how they are willing to (say): 'Okay, that's it, that's the situation, let's move forward', with that ambition, and as well with that determination and that enthusiasm, that's something great. Jason has been great on that.' (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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.
