Kristjaan Speakman appointed FC Copenhagen sporting director | OneFootball

Kristjaan Speakman has returned to football as FC Copenhagen sporting director. He will begin on 1 July, his first role since leaving Sunderland earlier this year.

The club said in a statement that he was the preferred candidate after a rigorous and extensive recruitment programme. He takes over at one of Denmark’s most historic clubs after a poor season in which they entered the relegation division for the first time, though victory in the European play-off means they will enter the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League qualifiers.

Speakman expressed pride at joining what he views as a fantastic club with a demanding fanbase. He set the task of continually developing sporting functions to bring trophies back, with ambitions unchanged but the approach evolving to secure sustained success.

He outlined short and long-term work, with the immediate focus on supporting head coach Bo Svensson and assembling a first-team squad capable of qualifying for the Conference League and targeting the championship, work already under way. Longer term, he will lead a strategic roadmap to strengthen the sporting operation across all teams and functions.

CEO Jacob Lauesen praised Speakman’s vision, saying his strategic insight and experience have already shaped the transformation plan. He highlighted immediate areas for optimisation and backed Speakman to lead the development, citing his hands-on background and holistic, visionary approach.

Source: Sunderland Echo