Chelsea are lastly functioning as an environment friendly unit below 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 carefully with Graham Potter as Chelsea embark for glory below a brand new proprietor.
So, who’s Joe Shields, and what is 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 the same place at Fulham. Nonetheless, his first promotion would solely come again at Crystal Palace, who re-hired him as chief youth scout. After two further years at Selhurst Park, Shields’ expertise was observed by Manchester Metropolis, who snapped him up. Whereas his position was downsized at Manchester, the attract of working for the most effective groups in England was a proposal he couldn’t resist. And after working for 5 years, Shields acquired 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 nicely at St. Mary’s Stadium, who’ve informed Shields to not come to both the membership’s stadium or their coaching stadium, Staplewood.
Media stories state that Southampton have been unaware that Shields was discussing phrases with Chelsea. In soccer, not like gamers, no guidelines dictate that golf equipment ought to ask the opposite membership earlier than coming into negotiations with workers. Nonetheless, the highest hierarchy on the membership is left livid together with his behaviour.
However all stated and performed, the appointment of Shields is a major coup for Chelsea. The Englishman is legendary 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 may assist them establish younger prodigies within the sophisticated youth soccer world.
Extra on Joe Shields, anticipated to affix Chelsea within the subsequent months 🔵 #CFC
▫️ Romeo Lavia, certainly one 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 can 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 can be extra associated to figuring out younger prospects that would 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 rationale why Southampton had signed him.
Joe Shields’ appointment leaves just one important 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.