Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman departs with immediate effect | OneFootball

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has left the club with immediate effect after a board decision to proceed without him.

According to NY Times, director of football Florent Ghisolfi has led Sunderland’s football set-up since July and was central to building a team and operation now succeeding in the Premier League.

The hierarchy view Speakman’s exit as an organic conclusion to his tenure and the end of a transitional phase, not its beginning.

Speakman joined in December 2020 after 14 years at Birmingham City, taking a newly created role overseeing player identification, development and recruitment across the first team and academy.

Sunderland were promoted from League One to the Championship in 2022 after four years in the second tier.

Regis Le Bris was appointed in 2024 and guided the club to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2025.

Following a busy summer that brought in 15 new players, Sunderland have settled in the top flight this season and sit 11th, 12 points above the relegation zone.

Source: NY Times