Kevin Thelwell - Everton Director Of Football
Kevin Thelwell boasts nearly 25 years of experience in management and leadership positions within professional football and was instrumental in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ rise from English football’s third tier to European qualification, while both attracting and developing a wealth of talent for the Midlands club.
Thelwell was appointed Sporting Director at Wolves in the summer of 2016 after three years as the Molineux club’s Head of Football Development and Recruitment, overseeing all football-related matters in both roles.
As Sporting Director, he was responsible for Wolves’ transfer and contract negotiations and oversaw all aspects of the football operation including recruitment, academy, sports science, performance analysis, medical and coaching.
During Thelwell’s tenure, Wolves went from England’s third tier in 2013/14 to winning the Championship in 2017/18 with a 99-points total.
Wolves finished seventh in their first Premier League season in 2018/19, qualifying for a return to European competition after 39 years with a spot in the Europa League the following term where they reached the quarter-final before being edged out by eventual champions Sevilla.
Thelwell helped build a Wolves team that included identifying and recruiting players like Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves, Adama Traore, Leander Dendoncker and Conor Coady.
In August 2019, Thelwell was appointed to Wolves’ board for his contributions to the club’s success, as the Midlanders went on to finish seventh again in the 2019/20 Premier League campaign.
With Thelwell as Sporting Director, Wolves were regarded as one of the pioneers of the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan, achieving Category One status and being described by auditors as “one of the top three academies in the country”.
In February 2020, Thelwell was appointed Head of Sport at New York Red Bulls, having oversight on all aspects of the sporting side of the MLS club.
He rebuilt the New York Red Bulls squad with 12 new signings from a mix of European and South American clubs as the team qualified for their 12th consecutive play-offs in 2021 with the youngest roster in the MLS.
A former professional footballer with Shrewsbury Town, Thelwell was Wolves’ academy manager for six years prior to being named the club’s Head of Football Development and Recruitment in 2013.
He holds a UEFA Pro License - the highest coaching qualification in European football – while previous roles include Derby County academy manager at the age of 32, Preston North End Director of Youth and four years as Director of Coaching Education for the Football Association of Wales.
Source: Everton FC