Matteo Tognozzi is keen to speak to Celtic about becoming the club’s Director of Football.
According to the Scottish Daily Mail (11/03, p92), the Italian is putting himself in the driver’s seat for the vacant role. With incoming CEO Dominic McKay set to ring the changes, Celtic have been actively searching to expand their football operational staff.
That search very much includes a Director of Football/Sporting Director, and the hard-working Tognozzi is one of the main names to take the job. Former Tottenham Hotspur man David Webb is also keen, as is ex-Celtic player and assistant John Collins.
Celtic have had problems with recruitment strategy over the last decade. There have been enormous successes, like Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama, Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer. However, it’s never been entirely clear what the club’s ideology is. Under Rodgers, Deila and Lennon, players such as Carlton Cole, Marvin Compper and Shane Duffy have been expensive misfires in the transfer market.
Matteo Tognozzi might be the answer to this quandry.
Who is Matteo Tognozzi, prospective Celtic Director of Football?
In case you require a refresher course in Matteo Tognozzi, the Italian is Juventus’ Chief Scout. He gained his Sporting Director license at the Coverciano centre, the home of the Italian FA’s coaching school. While there, he finished with aplomb, with his 60-page dissertation described as “meticulous” and “precise” by examiners [Daily Record].
A detail-orientated scout, Tognozzi is a voracious watcher of the game. He’s been heralded for spotting superstars on their ascent. Members of the current squad, including Weston McKennie, Merih Demiral and Dejan Kulusevski are impressing for the Old Lady. All three were plucked from relative obscurity, and each have enormous potential in the game.
Celtic will be hoping for a similar impact from Tognozzi, should they decide to snap the Juve an up. It’s clear that he’s ambitious, and would readily test himself in a more prominent role at a big club.
READ MORE: highlights from the first Celtic Shared public forum.
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