Sunderland Sporting Director welcomes arrival of Director of Football
Written by
Simon Austin
July 11, 2025
Sunderland Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman has welcomed the arrival of Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi, saying he “enhances our capabilities and our ability to make good decisions in the transfer market and around performance.”
Frenchman Ghisolfi (pictured) arrived at Sunderland at the start of the month after leaving his position as Sporting Director of AS Roma in Italy. The 40-year-old has previously been Sporting Director at RC Lens and OCG Nice in France’s Ligue 1, as well as a player for 11 years and Assistant Manager at Lorient for two years.
It was here that he got to know current Sunderland Manager Régis Le Bris, who was reserve team boss at Lorient at the time.
It is unusual for a club to have both a Sporting Director and Director of Football – and the division of responsibilities has not yet been fully explained by Sunderland – but Speakman spoke warmly of Ghisolfi’s arrival.
“First of all, we’re scaling up in several areas across the club,” said Speakman, who has been Sunderland Sporting Director since December 2020, having previously been Academy Manager at Birmingham City.
“It’s really important for us to be Premier League ready and to have that sustainable model in the Premier League, the executive function is no different. I’m really excited for Flo to be coming on board, I think it enhances our capabilities and our ability to make good decisions in the transfer market and around performance. I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
When Ghisolfi’s appointment was announced earlier this month, Sunderland said it represented “an organic evolution of SAFC’s long-term strategy, as the club continues to prepare for the opportunities and demands of the Premier League.”
Chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus added: “We have been on an incredible journey over the last four years, and we now face a new challenge as we prepare for life in the Premier League.
“The appointment of Florent marks an exciting new chapter in that journey. This appointment enhances our capabilities in line with the club’s long-term vision, and evolving our leadership structure in this way reflects our continued commitment to building a sustainable and competitive football club.
“I’m confident that players, staff, and fans alike will join me in welcoming Florent to Sunderland and supporting him in his new role.”
Meanwhile, there have been three additions to Le Bris’s first-team coaching staff at the club:
- Luciano Vulcano (Assistant): Joins from Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he has worked for the last year. Was Assistant at AC Milan for five years before that. Background is in analysis.
- Isidre Ramón Madir (Assistant): Most recent role was as Assistant with the Iraq national team. Background is in analysis, with PSG, An-Sadd, Nice and more.
- Neil Cutler (Goalkeeping Coach): Very experienced keeper coach. Most recent role was with England U20s and has also worked with Wolves, Aston Villa, West Brom and Walsall.
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