Everton names Kevin Thelwell as club’s Director of Football

Everton have added another new name to the backroom staff with them announcing the end in the search for a director of football; New York Red Bulls’ Head of Sports and former Director of Football of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Kevin Thelwell, has been named as Marcel Brands’ successor.

The job became vacant following the resignation of Marcel Brands back in December last year, due to a difference in “vision and direction for this beautiful club” between him and now former manager, Rafa Benitez.

"Thelwell, 48, will report directly to the Club’s Board of Directors, acting as the strategic lead for recruitment and all the Club’s football departments, including First Team, Academy, coaching, sport science, medical services and analysis.Currently Head of Sport at New York Red Bulls, who he joined in February 2020, Thelwell was Sporting Director at Wolverhampton Wanderers between 2016 and 2020, and was previously the Midlands club’s Head of Football Development and Recruitment between 2013 and 2016."

The club backed the Spaniard and thought it best to search for a new Director of Football and see the former PSV man leave his post just three years after joining them. The joke in it all, both Rafa and Brands are no longer with the club.

"Marcel Brands leave his role ahead of Monday night’s game against Arsenal at Goodison Park, live on Sky Sports; Brands became Everton’s director of football in June 2018; “The board and I agreed that there is a clear difference in the vision and direction for this beautiful club”. (Via: Sky Sports)"

Working alongside Frank Lampard at Everton

It was a discussion at first if they would retain the position following the sudden and premature departure of Marcel Brands. The question to make the post redundant arose due to the failed appointments made by Everton since 2016.

Each person hired have come under fire as transfers have not really lived up to their hype nor have they really become great investments at Goodison Park.

The Blues of Merseyside have struggled to match their neighbours Liverpool and have not reached their European goals set each season. A change in recruitment was needed.

Lampard is known for working well with young talented ballers and Kevin Thelwell is renowned for his work at developing youngsters and played a major role in the success of both his former clubs, Wolves and New York Red Bulls.

"With a glowing reputation for developing young talent, Thelwell guided New York Red Bulls into the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2020 with the youngest roster in the MLS.As Sporting Director at Wolverhampton Wanderers and previously Head of Football Development and Recruitment, Thelwell orchestrated Wolves’ rise from League One in 2013/14 to qualification for the Europa League in 2019/20, identifying and recruiting players like Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves, Adama Traore, Leander Dendoncker and Conor Coady.(Via: evertonfc.com)"

The match in management could be one that has been missing at Goodison Park. The Toffees have been quite disappointing this season but it was a campaign rudely interrupted by Real Madrid when they stole Carlo Ancelotti just before the season kicked off.

Already into their second manager for the season and already struggling to find consistency; they’ve lost two and one won with a visit from the champions and Premier League leaders, Manchester City.