Stuart Harvey sends classy Sunderland message after Stoke City move and Europa League qualification
Stuart Harvey has reflected on Sunderland’s rise after taking on a new role at Stoke City in the Championship
Former Sunderland head of recruitment Stuart Harvey has sent a classy message to the club after beginning his new role as technical director at Stoke City.
Harvey left Sunderland earlier this year as part of major off-field changes at the Stadium of Light, with Florent Ghisolfi now leading the club’s football operation. Harvey had played a key role during a transformative period for the Black Cats, working alongside Kristjaan Speakman and others as Sunderland rebuilt from League One and returned to the Premier League.
That progress has since continued in remarkable fashion, with Sunderland not only retaining their Premier League status but qualifying for the Europa League for the first time in more than 50 years after finishing seventh under Régis Le Bris. Harvey has now taken on his next challenge at Stoke, who are looking to rebuild and push back towards the levels they previously occupied during their long spell in the Premier League.
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Writing on LinkedIn after his appointment was confirmed, Harvey reflected on his time away from full-time club football, his pride in Sunderland’s progress and his excitement about the challenge ahead at the bet365 Stadium. Harvey wrote: “I’m delighted to announce that I have started my new role as Technical Director at Stoke City Football Club.
“After a period of reflection, learning and development, I feel this is the right moment to take on my next challenge, and I’m grateful for the opportunity ahead. During my time away from a full-time club role, it was important to re-energise after the pressures of the industry, while continuing to learn, develop and strive to be better.
“I’m extremely grateful to everyone who supported me during this period, too many to mention individually, but they know who they are, whether through kind messages, opportunities to attend games, visiting clubs, taking on consultancy work, spending time with people across the industry, enhancing my knowledge around data, exploring new software, or observing best-practice methods within football. The support and kind words I’ve received since departing Sunderland have meant a great deal.
“I look back on my time at Sunderland with great pride. It is a special football club and one that will always mean a great deal to me. To have played a small part alongside many good people, some of whom remain there and some who have since moved on in the rebuild of the squad and the progress of the club, and to see that work contribute to the club not only retaining Premier League status but also qualifying for European football for the first time in over 50 years, is something everyone should be proud of. It is a fantastic achievement for everyone, past and present, connected with the club.
“As one chapter closes and another opens, I’m now really looking forward to the challenge ahead at Stoke City. I’m very grateful to John Coates and Jonathan Walters for the opportunity and for the trust they have placed in me. Stoke City is a proud club with a strong history and a long period of sustained Premier League football. I know there is a big challenge ahead, but it is an exciting one, and I’m looking forward to playing my part in helping the club move forward and work towards returning to the levels it has represented for so long.”