The Rangers confirmed that Kevin Thelwell will join the Ibrox club as a sports director once his contract at Everton is expires this summer.
Gers CEO, Patrick Stewart, has been working on an appointment since February and has moved to the 51-year-old man, who joined the Merseyside Club in 2022 in New York Red Bulls.
Thelwell – who also worked at Wolves, Derby County and Preston North End – confirmed in March that he would leave the Toffees at the end of his contract, in the midst of a certain number of structural changes to the club.
Thelwell: Rangers must win
Speaking after accepting his new role, Thelwell said: “It is a huge honor for me to join a club with the size, the stature and the expectations of the Rangers. Since the first conversations, it was clear to me how ambitious the club is, and I am delighted to play a role in the training of its next chapter.
“I know how much the rangers mean for so many people, and it brings both responsibility and motivation.
“Rangers must win. This is the net profit. There is already a solid base in place, and I can’t wait to work closely with the teams of male, female and academic programs to build something that offers consistently.
“Of course, there is an important work to come, in particular in the structure of the team of the first team, but we will approach it with energy and the goal. Although the change takes time, I am convinced that we can make real progress. I can’t wait to start.”
Stewart added: “I am delighted to welcome Kevin to the club after a rigorous recruitment process.
The CEO of Rangers, Patrick Stewart (R), worked on the search for a sports director
“Our football review quickly identified the need to appoint a sports director, and in Kevin, we found an exceptional candidate with a great experience in the Premier League and in the MLS.
“It will be the role of Kevin, with the full support of myself and the board of directors to direct our football service and deliver the results that our supporters expect and deserve.”
How did it get to Everton?
During her three years in the first League, Thelwell supervised difficult periods that included difficulties with the PSR rules, points deductions, a battle against relegation and management changes.
However, he saw the club win 226 million pounds sterling in transfer fees, while spending only 145 million pounds sterling on six transfer windows. For the context, nine Premier League teams have spent more than 100 million pounds sterling in the only summer window.
Despite difficulties out of the field and circumstances leading to a lack of expenses, he should go with Everton up under David Moyes and enter a new stadium next season.
It is understood that Thelwell recently met figures from Ibrox Seniors, after also visiting club installations in Glasgow.
The appointment of Thelwell is the first sign of change to the Rangers, who said Sky Sports News They are in “productive conversations” with an American consortium which is ready to take over the Ibrox club and to “inject additional capital”.
Please use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
The health insurance tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and Gretar Steinson of the 49ers of San Francisco were in Ibrox for recent matches, with the Rangers which should be taken up by American investors
Why do Rangers name a sports director?
CEO Stewart ordered a “rooted examination of the entire football department” in January when he sought to bring success to the club.
The head of Ibrox confirmed that the appointment of a sports director was identified from the external examination and has worked since the research.
Ross Wilson – who left Ibrox in 2023 to join Nottingham Forest – was the last sports director of Rangers
The Rangers have won only one league title in 14 seasons and have dismissed three managers since 2022, Stewart saying that the appointment would have “the responsibility of all football operations throughout the club”.
He added that the appointment would be “an experienced footballer who will be responsible for all aspects of the football club to ensure that they work together to achieve our holistic plan joined”.
The Rangers worked without sports director since Ross Wilson left for Nottingham Forest in April 2023.
