Angus Kinnear aims thinly-veiled dig at Victor Orta in first Everton interview after Leeds United exit
Will Butcher
3 – 4 minutes
Angus Kinnear has been discussing all matters Everton after his first week as the Merseyside club’s new chief executive, following his move from Leeds United to The Toffees.
Kinnear has ended an eight-year spell at Leeds United having joined the club back in 2017, to join The Toffees at what is a big time for David Moyes’ side. The Friedkin Group have bought Everton for £400m.
Not only that, but Everton are moving to their sparkling new stadium. Kinnear said they were two of three reasons why he joined Everton from Leeds, the other being Everton’s rich history and heritage.
But when asked about how he will structure the footballing operations team at Everton, Kinnear aimed a thinly-veiled dig at Victor Orta’s tenure during the Spaniard’s six-year stint as Leeds’ sporting director.
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Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
During his six years at Leeds, Orta was a one-man team as sporting director. He was left to do transfers, scouting and make the important decisions behind the scenes – even picking managers in the dugout.
Marcelo Bielsa was of course a superb pick. Jesse Marsch, the opposite. But it was Orta and Orta alone making these calls. After Orta’s exit in 2023, Kinnear and Leeds created a team of experts to replace him.
Photo By Joaquin Corchero/Europa Press via Getty Images
Photo By Joaquin Corchero/Europa Press via Getty Images
A group of talented individuals, rather than another one-man band replacing Orta. Asked what he will do at Everton, Kinnear said he will create a team and criticised the model of a single director of football.
In a little dig at Orta, Kinnear said: “In my experience, the best structures are where you have individual experts leading the functions. There’s been a move in recent years to a single director of football model.
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“That can be challenging. We’re moving to a broader, flatter structure where we have experts in analytics, operations, recruitment and talent ID and trading. Delighted with the individuals we’ve been attracted.”
Kinnear dig comes at same time as Orta’s future at Sevilla ends
They say that when it rains it pours, and for Orta that seems to be true. Clearly, his time at Leeds ended in the Spaniard being somewhat of a villain, his legacy still frustrating Leeds due to his relegation clause.
Although Kinnear has not directly aimed his dig at Orta, it is quite clear that given Kinnear’s history in the game, his “experience” is Orta as a one-man band. It comes at the same time that he is about to be fired.
Sevilla’s form under Orta has been woeful since he replaced Monchi as the La Liga side’s transfer chief. Much criticised, reports in Spain say Orta is set to be sacked after Sevilla just about avoided relegation.
