Chelsea are lastly functioning as an environment friendly unit beneath new proprietor Todd Boehly. When the American businessman took over the membership, the Blues was in disarray. Sadly, the beginning of the brand new season didn’t make issues higher as Champions League-winning supervisor Thomas Tuchel was sacked after a string of poor performances even after spending €280 million. Graham Potter changed Tuchel, and performances have picked up once more. Because of this, the Blues are fourth within the Premier League and high of their Champions League. Behind the scenes, too, the membership are placing a brand new hierarchy as Joe Shields was appointed as the brand new ‘Director of Recruitment.
The Englishman will be part of the Blues as their chief recruiter simply three months after taking up the identical position at Southampton. His appointment comes days after Christopher Vivell took over as Chelsea’s new technical director. The membership are nonetheless searching for a Director of Soccer who would full the highest recruitment course of on the membership. The three appointments are anticipated to work intently with Graham Potter as Chelsea embark for glory beneath a brand new proprietor.
So, who’s Joe Shields, and what’s going to he convey to Chelsea?
Who’s Joe Shields?
Joe Shields began his profession as a youth scout at Crystal Palace in 2008. He labored for 2 years on the membership earlier than taking an identical place at Fulham. Nonetheless, his first promotion would solely come again at Crystal Palace, who re-hired him as chief youth scout. After two extra years at Selhurst Park, Shields’ expertise was seen by Manchester Metropolis, who snapped him up. Whereas his position was downsized at Manchester, the attract of working for among the finest groups in England was a suggestion he couldn’t resist. And after working for 5 years, Shields obtained his deserved promotion as chief youth scout.
He spent 4 extra years at Metropolis earlier than lastly becoming a member of Southampton as ‘Director of Recruitment’ in August 2022. Nonetheless, his departure has not gone properly at St. Mary’s Stadium, who’ve advised Shields to not come to both the membership’s stadium or their coaching stadium, Staplewood.
Media reviews state that Southampton have been unaware that Shields was discussing phrases with Chelsea. In soccer, in contrast to gamers, no guidelines dictate that golf equipment ought to ask the opposite membership earlier than getting into negotiations with employees. Nonetheless, the highest hierarchy on the membership is left livid together with his behaviour.
However all stated and achieved, the appointment of Shields is a major coup for Chelsea. The Englishman is known for his spectacular connections within the youth participant community. His relationships with Manchester Metropolis benefitted Southampton, who managed to signal Gavin Bazunu, Romeo Lavia, Juan Larios, and Samuel Edozie from Metropolis’s under-21 facet. Southampton’s intelligent technique was a results of Shields’ helpful enter.
And Chelsea should be hoping he might assist them determine younger prodigies within the sophisticated youth soccer world.
Extra on Joe Shields, anticipated to hitch Chelsea within the subsequent months 🔵 #CFC
▫️ Romeo Lavia, one in every of his signings at Southampton — Chelsea had £50m rejected for him;
▫️ Bella-Kotchap, additionally rated as high expertise;
▫️ Juan Larios, Sam Edozie and large work on high abilities. pic.twitter.com/nApKIDYnVU
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 12, 2022
What’s going to Joe Shields convey to Chelsea?
Like when he moved to Manchester Metropolis years again, Shields’ position at Chelsea might be much less influential than what he was used to at Southampton. The membership have already got a strong high hierarchy, with even Todd Boehly appointing himself as an interim sporting director when Marina Granovskaia left.
His position might be extra associated to figuring out younger prospects that might come to the youth set-up and prosper into correct world-class expertise. And it’s the place Shields is an knowledgeable. It was exactly the explanation why Southampton had signed him.
Joe Shields’ appointment leaves just one vital position vacant on the membership, that’s, the Director of Soccer, which, when appointed, would give Chelsea the required backing to climb again to the highest of the English and hopefully the European pyramid.
