Newcastle United appoint Sudarshan Gopaladesikan as technical director | OneFootball

Newcastle United have appointed Sudarshan Gopaladesikan as their new technical director.

The former Atalanta and Benfica staff member will oversee football data operations at all levels of the club.

He will report to a new sporting director, whose appointment is still pending following the departure of Paul Mitchell last month.

Gopaladesikan arrives with a strong reputation for data-driven recruitment and performance analysis, having played a part in Atalanta’s Europa League triumph and three consecutive top-five league finishes.

During his time in Italy, he was credited with identifying talents such as Rasmus Hojlund, who joined Atalanta from Sturm Graz for €17 million.

He was later sold to Manchester United for an initial €75m after just one season.

He will work closely with manager Eddie Howe and his staff, as well as the club’s recruitment, performance, medical and analysis departments.

Gopaladesikan says he is honoured to join Newcastle and is looking forward to contributing to a club with a ‘unique connection between the team, the city and its supporters’.

He also highlighted his desire to help identify tools that give the Magpies a competitive edge.

His arrival signals Newcastle’s intent to further modernise their football operations with data at the core, amid expectations that more appointments will follow this summer.

The club are still in search of a permanent sporting director to replace Mitchell, who left in June less than a year into the job.

Ross Wilson has held follow-up interviews for the role, with Jason Ayto also linked.

Wilson has held senior roles at Rangers, Nottingham Forest and Southampton. He Rangers end their decade-long wait for a league title and reach the Europa League final.

Ayto, formerly of Arsenal, was credited with helping reshape their recruitment structure during his time as Edu’s assistant before briefly stepping in as interim sporting director.

Newcastle’s top-level shake-up continues following last season’s cup-winning campaign.

Gopaladesikan’s arrival is one of several key steps in establishing a more robust and forward-thinking football structure at the club.