Kevin Thelwell is in pole position to become the director of football at Rangers when his current contract at Everton expires in the summer.
Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart confirmed Rangers’ hunt for a new director of football earlier in the season with the role left vacant since the departure of Ross Wilson in April 2023.
US sports consortium 49ers Enterprises have agreed a deal to takeover Rangers this summer, with the group set to take a 51% shareholding alongside US healthcare mogul Andrew Cavenagh.
With 49ers asset Leeds United securing promotion to the Premier League, attentions are now turning to the work that needs done to secure the takeover at Ibrox.
The appointment of the club’s new sporting director/director of football will be crucial to the group’s aims and will come before the appointment of the 20th permanent Rangers manager.
Kevin Thelwell leading candidate to become Rangers’ new director of football
That overhaul is expected to begin with the appointment of a new director of football with Kevin Thelwell now the frontrunner to be appointed at Rangers.
The Daily Mail broke the story, claiming that a deal to appoint Thelwell could be ‘imminent’ as Rangers look to seal a crucial appointment before the final whistle goes this season.
The Rangers Review then added to that suggestion, claiming that Thelwell has been interviewed by the likes of Stewart and 49ers technical director Gretar Steinsson.
It’s also believed that Thelwell has visited the Rangers Training Centre as he prepares to leave Goodison Park this summer following the buyout from US backers the Friedkin Group.
Thelwell, 51, has been at Everton since 2022 but has substantial experience working in top roles across global football.
The Englishman started out as a youth coach working with Preston North End and Derby County before rising through the executive ranks to a director of football role at Wolves.
Thelwell also spent two years as the head of sport with New York Red Bulls in the MLS, with the 49ers having close links to the Austrian sports consortium through their business dealings at Elland Road.
Everton statistics point to Thelwell being perfect fit for Rangers
Whilst Kevin Thelwell certainly has impressive pedigree in the game, some Rangers fans might raise eyebrows at Everton’s recent financial struggles.
The Toffees were fined and deducted points for breaching FFP rules, although the charges related to the 21/22 season before Thelwell joined.
In fact, the job that Thelwell has done under challenging circumstances only serves to highlight why the Englishman is an exciting candidate for the role.
Whilst Thelwell ticks a lot of boxes in terms of experience across global football, including working in a multi-club model, the Everton chief has also stabilised the Toffees in two years at the club.
As detailed by these excellent stats from Everton fan Toffee Tactic, the club’s director of football has had an impressive impact on Merseyside.
Not counting points deductions, Everton would’ve finished 17th in 22/23 and then 12th in 23/24. The club is currently 13th and safe from relegation this season.
Thelwell has also managed this despite having a positive net transfer spend of close to £80m over his three seasons at the club.
Rangers’ poor transfer record has been well publicised and these are the sorts of figures that will be attractive to the club’s new ownership. Everton also have the second lowest net spend in the entire Premier League since Thelwell took charge, with only Burnley pipping them.
To top it off, Thelwell has cut Everton’s wage bill from over £100m to under £80m, with Rangers currently in the process of implementing similar measures at Ibrox.
This appointment certainly seems to just fit for Rangers and with Thelwell already saying his goodbyes to Everton, a deal could be very close.
