A monster with… four heads? CF Montreal announced its new “sports structure” on Thursday. Exit the title of sports director: the Saputo sons will be main directors, as well as points of contact for President Gabriel Gervais.
Posted at 8:44 a.m.
Updated at 9:08 a.m.
Luca Saputo, 27, is named senior director, recruitment and sports methodology. It is he who will take care of the “synergy” with Bologna, Joey Saputo’s other club.
Simone Saputo, 24, takes on the role of Senior Director, Academy Strategy and Membership Management. He will also help manage the first team’s salary cap and budget.
Read Alexandre Pratt’s column: “The Saputos, new generation”
For these two children of Joey Saputo, these are positions that they have already occupied for several months.
Corey Wray, until now consultant to the president, will be the soccer director within the structure. He is the one who will discuss with the other clubs in the league and the players’ agents, and who will represent CF Montreal within the MLS. He will be responsible for the analytical aspect of the department, which we want to be central and enhanced. Daniel Pozzi, who becomes director of soccer operations, will assist him in his tasks.
CF Montreal indicates that Wray will “support” the two Saputo brothers in the “implementation of the first team’s squad strategy”. This means that Wray, with more than 20 seasons of experience as a manager in MLS, will report to Simone and Luca Saputo, despite greater responsibilities.
And all these beautiful people will have to report to Gabriel Gervais, who “will continue to supervise the club’s sporting activities”. There are therefore four decision-makers in the organization chart, excluding from this number Raffaele Frassetti, now chief scout, and Daniel Pozzi.
Note that Olivier Renard and Vassili Cremanzidis operated, until last May, almost single-handedly the sporting management of the club, with the successes and pitfalls that we witnessed.
“This sporting structure allows us to maximize our strategic vision, according to Gabriel Gervais. We want to have increased rigor in recruitment, clear processes and a structured approach, while placing emphasis on analytics, the development of young talents from the Academy and high-potential players in our squad. »
“Luca and Simone embody the same pride and determination as that of the family that has been developing soccer in Montreal for more than 30 years,” adds Gervais. Additionally, Corey’s extensive MLS experience is an undeniable asset. In recent months, we have seen his professionalism, his rigor and his analytical sense. This structure proved its effectiveness during the last transfer window and at the end of the season, bringing positive results and qualification for the playoffs. »
A press conference with Gabriel Gervais is scheduled for 2 p.m. this Thursday afternoon.
