Chelsea: Eight candidates to consider for director of football role

Tim Steidten is a data guru, Les Reed is busy at Wrexham and Monchi runs things at Sevilla… after Salzburg’s Christoph Freund said no, what next for Chelsea in their director of football search?

• Chelsea are continuing their search for a sporting director before the World Cup
• Controlling owner Todd Boehly has been acting in the role to cover the interim
• New boss Graham Potter liked Christoph Freund, but he has turned the job down
• Sportsmail looks at eight candidates that could be on the Blues’ radar for the role

Todd Boehly faced few complications in getting his No 1 target when it came to hiring a new manager – but unlike Graham Potter, landing a sporting director is not proving quite so easy. 

Chelsea suffered another blow in their search after first choice candidate Christoph Freund opted to stay at Red Bull Salzburg.

The Blues were hopeful after talks with the 45-year-old – who helped recruit stars including Sadio Mane and Erling Haaland to Salzburg – only for Freund to decide to stick it out with the Austrian champions, who held Chelsea to a draw in the Champions League last week. 

So, back to the drawing board, and not for the first time. 

Christoph Freund has turned down the sporting director role at Chelsea to stay with Salzburg 

Former Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards already said that he will take a break from the game after leaving Anfield at the end of last season.

Now Freund has nipped rumours he is bound for Stamford Bridge in the bud.

‘Yes, it’s true that Chelsea wanted me and we had talks,’ confirmed Freund. ‘When such a big club asks it not only honours me and the work of Salzburg, it is of course a circumstance that entails personal considerations. 

‘But I’ve come to the conclusion I’m in the best hands with Salzburg and that a change is out of the question for me.

‘I was thinking about the Chelsea director job as I have been proud of the interest shown by such a top club.’

Chelsea are hoping to appoint their new sporting director, with new manager Potter’s help, before the World Cup, which starts on November 20. They could also add a technical director. 

Controlling owner Todd Boehly has been covering the role as interim over the summer months

Where they go with the appointment will be fascinating and given Freund was the No 1 target, that may give a nod to where the club are looking. 

The Austrian, who had been given the seal of approval by Potter and his recruitment specialist Kyle Macauley, impressed with his shrewdness, bold ideas and passion, as well as his nous working with data when recruiting.

They felt that, after catching the eye at Salzburg, Freund would have dovetailed well with the new coaching staff headed up by recently-appointed manager Potter. 

Now owner Todd Boehly, who is currently doing the job himself on a temporary basis, is on the hunt for a director in a similar mould to Freund.

Sportsmail looks at eight viable candidates for a switch to Stamford Bridge…

Bayer Leverkusen’s Tim Steidten is a target

Tim Steidten

One of the leading candidates now Freund is not in the frame is Bayer Leverkusen’s Tim Steidten.

Much like Freund, the 43-year-old is viewed as strong on recruitment and working with data, both attractive qualities to Chelsea’s ownership, as well as Potter and his staff.

Steidten initially made the move to Leverkusen as a squad planner in 2019, having previously built up his reputation in a number of roles at Werder Bremen between 2006 and 2016.

The former Germany defensive midfielder has been on Chelsea’s radar for some time having worked closely with them on the deal to take Callum Hudson-Odoi from Chelsea to Leverkusen in the summer. 

That piece of business has been hailed in Bundesliga circles and as such Steidten’s stock has elevated further.

But the issue Chelsea face is that Steidten only became Leverkusen’s sporting director prior to this season – bringing into question whether he would be willing, or Leverkusen would be willing, to divorce so quickly. 

Victor Orta

Victor Orta has impressed in his time at Leeds

This is an interesting one.

Victor Orta, a former journalist for Marca as well as Sky Espana, is already operating in the Premier League with Leeds United.

Boehly got to size Orta up when the Blues negotiated for winger Raphinha, only to see him go to Barcelona.

Orta is well travelled and has had a rich history of success in the game, starting out in LaLiga with Sevilla. 

He made the move to the south of Spain having stepped away from a role on Real Valladolid’s coaching staff; he thrived. 

Orta’s knowledge of multiple markets proved remarkable in acquiring players somewhat off the radar, with Bryan Rabello, Didier Zokora and Sébastien Squillaci all examples at Sevilla that proved a hit. 

While his reputation at Leeds is somewhat mixed – he played a key role in recommending Marcelo Bielsa but some fans retain reservations over his track record – his standing in Europe remains high. 

Juventus have been admirers of him in the past, only to see him deflect their advances for work with Zenit St Petersburg, Elche and Middlesbrough. 

‘His knowledge about football – not just about Spanish football but about every place, anywhere, his knowledge is amazing,’ then-Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka said of Orta.

Middlesbrough won promotion to the Premier League in May 2016 with Orta playing a key role. But the club were then relegated one year later which came as a blot on his CV.

But given his experience in English football, it would likely prove a seamless transition to Stamford Bridge. 

Les Reed

Les Reed is currently a consultant to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney at Wrexham

Les Reed, 69, is currently spending his time as an advisor to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the Hollywood chairmen of Wrexham in the National League, and so a return to Premier League football would be a major increase in his workload. 

Reed, the former Football Association technical director, has a rich pedigree but he is also holding down a number of other consultancy positions and it remains unclear whether he could give Chelsea the attention and focus they are seeking.

His experience includes being director of football and vice-chairman at Southampton and, like Orta, his knowledge of the game in England would make for a smooth transition.  

The Wapping-born director is most well known for his time at St Mary’s and the brilliant work he achieved with the club’s academy. 

Along with staff working alongside him, Reed played a crucial role in implementing a playing style and philosophy throughout Southampton’s age groups. 

From under-eights up to the first-team, the standards he set are founded on the best practices across the globe and transformed Southampton’s academy into one of the best in Europe.

That would no doubt appeal to Boehly but given Potter has his own playing philosophy and Reed, given his age, is unlikely to want to sign up for a long term project, it appears better options are out there for both sides.  

Michael Zorc is the man credited with building up modern day Borussia Dortmund

Michael Zorc

‘Michael Zorc has helped to shape an era; nobody knows and understands the club better,’ Marco Rose, now of RB Leipzig, said of the Zorc.

‘He was not only the sporting director, but also a very successful player. 

‘No-one lives the club more. On top of that, he’s a very calm and pleasant guy. You can see his experience. I think we will certainly miss him.’

After 44 years Zorc made the decision to walk away from Borussia Dortmund, a club he, along with the help of others, such as Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, has transformed in recent decades. 

Zorc, who goes by the nickname ‘Susi’, has proven himself to be a brilliant recruiter and few on Chelsea’s radar will be able to rival his pulling power from his days at Dortmund – Jadon Sancho, Mats Hummels, Robert Lewandowski, Jude Bellingham, and loads more.

While sell-ons for players maybe not the immediate focus at Chelsea that it is at Dortmund each summer, Zorc has proven he can find gems to sell on for more and that should entice Boehly.

Zorc’s greatest strength as a technical director has been his ability to ‘future proof’ – a rare trait found in the cut-and-thrust of Premier League football. 

That level of foresight would prove invaluable with Potter focused on the week-to-week results. 

Sebastian Kehl

Sebastian Kehl is the man who replaced Zorc

Now for Zorc’s successor at Dortmund.

Kehl, 42, is not too far removed from being a player having made 362 appearances for Dortmund before retiring in 2015.

A three-time Bundesliga winner – lifting the title in 2001-02, 2010-11 and 2011-12 – he has moved seamlessly into a role behind the scenes on a contract until June 2025.

There is a real sense of family and longevity at Dortmund and Zorc passing the crown onto Kehl was not a decision taken lightly. 

‘As sports director, creating the conditions for BVB to continue to be successful in the future means both a claim and an obligation for me,’ Kehl said upon his appointment. 

‘I would like to thank those responsible – especially Hans-Joachim Watzke and Michael Zorc – for their trust.’ 

Kehl and Potter, you feel, would pair up perfectly in terms of the way they would want to play and the young players they would look to target, and nurture.  

Karim Adeyemi’s arrival at Borussia Dortmund, plus Kehl’s work in helping to build a team around Bellingham, points to smart forward-thinking and is something similar to Zorc’s ‘future proofing’.  

It is, however, hard to envision him leaving his current Dortmund deal with more than two years left to run on it. 

Monchi 

Sevilla director Monchi has a lofty reputation

The Sevilla supremo will need little introduction.  

Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo, known as Monchi, is widely viewed as the man responsible for Sevilla’s rise in Spain and in Europe. 

So high is the praise for Monchi, he is considered to have changed the way a sporting director operates and if Chelsea were to snare him from Sevilla they would be getting one of the best in the business. 

A goalkeeper in his playing days, having emerged from Sevilla’s academy, Monchi knows how to spot a top-level player and having retired at the age of 30 he remains hungry for success.  

He started out managing matchdays off the pitch for Sevilla in 2000 before eventually stepping up into a sporting director role. 

One of the greatest compliments that can be paid to Monchi is that, if he is given the resources to do so, he knows how to build to win. 

At Sevilla he managed to build a scouting network of more than 700. No stone was to be left unturned and he himself is heavily involved in watching matches and scouting players with his own eyes.  

It is said that Monchi watches players he is interested in six to 12 times before deciding on whether or not to push for a deal, given he is looking for quality and consistency. 

Chelsea are in a state of flux with a new manager, new coaching staff, new ownership and a new sporting director on the horizon. Establishing structures and a foundation to build on will be vital. Few do that better than Monchi. 

Andrea Berta has enjoyed rich success with Atletico Madrid since 2013

Andrea Berta

Monchi is a builder but in Spain it is Andrea Berta, sporting director at Atletico Madrid, that is viewed as the ‘transfer guru’. 

The regard in which Berta is held was evidenced, perhaps clearest, when he was awarded with the best sporting director of the year award in 2019.

Berta, who took the position at Atletico Madrid in 2013, reportedly received an offer from Manchester United and Newcastle are also thought to have analysed his work before opting for Dan Ashworth.

The Italian’s CV runs him from the boardroom of AC Carpenedolo in Italy in 2002 to Parma before signing a deal with Genoa in 2009.

From there he took a four-year sabbatical before joining Atletico Madrid as technical director and the club have won LaLiga twice since then to break the monopoly held by Barcelona and Real Madrid. In 2017 his role morphed into becoming sporting director.  

Berta would represent a major coup for Boehly and for Chelsea given the stature he holds among his peers. 

His decision-making is near impeccable and his recruitment history bodes well, with moves for David Villa, Jan Oblak, Diogo Jota, Rodri and Marcos Llorente all catching their rivals across Europe out. 

Perhaps one of the more difficult appointments to pull off.  

Marc Overmars

Marc Overmars spent 10 years as director of football affairs for Ajax

This one would likely bring with it condemnation from supporters. 

Marc Overmars, now technical director at Royal Antwerp, quit Ajax back in February after sending ‘inappropriate messages’ to female colleagues. 

The former Arsenal and Barcelona winger said in a statement at that time: ‘I am ashamed. 

‘Unfortunately I didn’t realise that I was crossing the line with this, but that was made clear to me in recent days. I suddenly felt huge pressure. I apologise.’

Prior to the scandal involving Overmars, he had enjoyed a great deal of success in Amsterdam in his role as director of football affairs for 10 years. 

Of all the eight listed here, it is Overmars that would bring with him the most baggage.

But if Chelsea are happy to turn the page and get him back into a Champions League set-up, his knowledge would prove invaluable.  

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