Florent Ghisolfi reshapes Sunderland scouting with ex-Arsenal, Celtic and FC Midtjylland hires | OneFootball

Sunderland have strengthened their scouting with the appointments of Alex Crean and Julián Villegas as senior scouts, continuing structural changes under sporting director Florent Ghisolfi after winter backroom changes.

According to Sunderland Echo, the pair arrived at the Academy of Light in October and November after promotion back to the Premier League, and their appointments appear to reflect an effort to expand and modernise the network.

Crean, formerly First Team Senior Scout at Crewe Alexandra, is a former professional who spent youth spells with Celtic and Arsenal. He is known for talent identification, recruitment strategy and player development, and will focus on elite-level scouting.

Villegas was most recently Head of Scouting at FC Midtjylland, having served as a scout and video scout within the Danish club’s data-led model. His background fits Sunderland’s push to strengthen continental links and analytical integration.

The moves come amid wider change, with head of recruitment Stuart Harvey and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman departing in recent months, and assistant head coach Luciano Vulcano also leaving. The reshuffle forms part of a recalibration since Ghisolfi’s arrival last summer, following additions to Régis Le Bris’ staff before the campaign.

Despite Vulcano’s exit, the coaching structure remains largely intact. Former head of goalkeeping Alessandro Barcherini, interim assistant last season, is now permanent and focuses on the defensive unit and individual plans. Isidre Ramón Madir and goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler remain alongside Michael Proctor, and Sunderland are understood to be comfortable continuing with the current set-up.

Source: Sunderland Echo