Tottenham Hotspur’s former director of football Damien Comolli has joined Liverpool’s staff to oversee player recruitment.
Comolli, whose job title for the club will be Director of Football Strategy, has left St Etienne to work alongside manager Roy Hodgson to “identify exciting young footballing talent”, according to the club’s new owner John Henry.
Henry told the club’s website: “Today’s announcement is just the first step in creating a leadership group and structure designed to develop, enhance and implement our long-term philosophy of scouting, recruitment, player development and all of the other aspects necessary to build and sustain a club able to consistently compete at the highest level in European football.”
Hodgson welcomed Comolli’s appointment, saying: “I am looking forward to working with Damien whom I have known for many years. We are engaged in an exciting project here and he will bring a lot to the table.
“We all want to see moves to strengthen the squad and support player development over the next few years. John Henry and I are totally united in delivering on that ambition.”
Comolli, who scouted Gareth Bale as a 17-year-old before Spurs signed him for £5m, also spoke today about Bale’s performances against Internazionale, suggesting Tottenham face a struggle to hold on to him.
Comolli said: “When I watched him for the first time I was gobsmacked. He was already showing the strength, the technical ability, the confidence to take people on, the pace, the quality left foot, the work-rate. He had it all.
“I remember coming back from scouting him and thinking ‘I’ve seen the new Paolo Maldini’.
“Spurs are desperate to hold on to Gareth but I know last summer there were big, big clubs sniffing around. If they are ambitious and want to do well in the future they have to keep hold of him and Champions League football should help them do that.”
