Rangers Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Kevin Thelwell to the position of sporting director. Thelwell, who previously served at Everton, is now poised to take up a role with the Scottish giants. Both clubs find themselves in a time of great transition. His deep knowledge of the Premier League and Major League Soccer makes him truly unique. He’s the ideal man to guide Rangers’ footballing ambitions.
Thelwell’s time at Everton has not all been sunshine and smiles. He oversaw a tumultuous period marked by struggles with Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), points deductions, and a battle against relegation. Despite these challenges, he was a central figure in recruit managerial appointments and the club’s wider strategic vision.
Thelwell came to Everton in 2022 after dazzling at New York Red Bulls. Since then, he’s seen the club through its many dramatic highs and lows. During his time, Everton not only accomplished a record £226 million in player sale transfer fees while only spending a net £145 million over six transfer windows. As he gets ready to depart, Thelwell cranks up Everton’s transfer market momentum. Under long-serving manager David Moyes, the club now is on the cusp of entering a new stadium just down the road next season.
Background and Achievements
Given Thelwell’s time at Everton was overshadowed by the criticism of a squad in desperate need of a strategic reassessment, In January, CEO Patrick Stewart commissioned a “root-and-branch review of the entire football department,” indicating the necessity for robust leadership. It was this review that ultimately resulted in the call for a new sporting director, with Thelwell’s name immediately appearing on the shortlist of candidates.
“Our Football Review quickly identified the need to appoint a Sporting Director, and in Kevin, we have found an outstanding candidate with terrific experience in the Premier League and the MLS.” – Patrick Stewart
Thelwell’s track record includes orchestrating through the eye of the needle through complex financial fair play regulations, which were especially tough during his tenure at Everton. He also negotiated the transfers out of influential players that transformed the club’s economic health. Even when under immense scrutiny through tough periods, Thelwell’s faith in Everton’s long-term vision has never faltered.
Transition to Rangers
Just ahead of his appointment, Stewart was known to have been chasing Thelwell since February, showing a blatant desire to really beef up Rangers’ football department. That makes Thelwell’s arrival an ideally timed shot in the proverbial arm. The club is intent on increasing its competitiveness on the pitch both at home and in Europe.
“This is a huge honour for me to be joining a club with the size, stature and expectations of Rangers. From the first conversations, it was clear to me how ambitious the club is, and I’m excited to play a part in shaping its next chapter.” – Kevin Thelwell
Thelwell’s experience is expected to be invaluable as he works closely with various teams across Rangers’ men’s, women’s, and academy programs. His vision matches the club’s desire to be able to sustainably reproduce the results at a high level and keep its iconic place in Scottish football.
Future Aspirations
As he gets ready for such an adventurous new role, Thelwell knows that above all else, winning matters most of all for the Rangers. He appreciates the great assets already in place. To create that winning future, teamwork from every corner of the organization is key.
“Rangers needs to win. That’s the bottom line. There’s a strong foundation already in place, and I look forward to working closely with the teams across the men’s, women’s and academy programmes to build something that delivers consistently.” – Kevin Thelwell
Thelwell’s appointment heralds a new beginning for Rangers, both on and off the field. Their goal is to get back on top of Scottish football’s summit again. His leadership will be extremely important as the department faces many challenges and seeks to build on opportunities for future progress.
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