Steve Walsh is an English football scout who is currently Special Advisor at Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC. He previously worked for teams including Chelsea, Leicester City, and Everton. He was credited with bringing key players to Leicester to help them win the Premier League in 2016. [1]
Walsh was born in Chorley, Lancashire to Irish parents. His brother Mickey played as a forward for the Republic of Ireland and clubs including Blackpool, Everton and Porto. Their cousin Michael played Gaelic football for Mayo. [2]
Walsh did his coaching badges in the 1970s and worked as a physical education teacher at Bishop Rawstorne High School while scouting for, in order, Bury, Chester City and Chelsea. [2] While at Chelsea, he scouted Gianfranco Zola and Didier Drogba, both of whom went on to have successful careers at the club. [3]
In 2006, he left for the chief scout role at Newcastle United, where he met Nigel Pearson. He followed Pearson to Leicester City in 2008 and Hull City two years later, and then accompanied him on his return to Leicester, whereby he was made assistant manager. [2] After Pearson was sacked in 2015, the club's board retained all of his staff, including Walsh. [4]
Walsh scouted obscure players such as Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and N'Golo Kanté for Leicester, and their contribution to the club's success in the 2015–16 season ostensibly led Arsenal to express an interest for his services. He had a £1 million release clause written into his contract. [5] On 8 May 2016, a few days after the club secured their maiden Premier League title, both Walsh and assistant manager Craig Shakespeare agreed to extend their contracts with Leicester City. [1]
On 21 July 2016, he returned to his native North West England, joining Everton as Director of Football, signed by their new majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri. [6]
In November 2017, Walsh's job was reported as under pressure. Everton had spent £150 million on new players over the summer but found themselves in danger of relegation and were eliminated from the UEFA Europa League. [7] In addition to the expensive players that Everton signed, Walsh also recommended Hull duo Andy Robertson and Harry Maguire for a combined £20 million and teenage Norwegian striker Erling Haaland for €4 million; Everton rejected the trio, whose values soared years later. [8] On 16 May 2018, Walsh was relieved of his duties, being replaced by Marcel Brands. [9]
In March 2020, Walsh was named Special Advisor at Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC. [10]
Leicester City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Leicester, East Midlands, England. They compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league system.
The Professional Footballers' Association Men's Players' Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the year in English football. The award has been presented since the 1973–74 season and the winner is chosen by a vote amongst the members of the players' trade union, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA). The current holder is Erling Haaland of Manchester City, who won the award for the first time on 29 August 2023.
The Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football. The award has been presented since the 1947–48 season, with the inaugural winner being Blackpool winger Stanley Matthews. The latest winner of the award as of 2022–23 is Erling Haaland of Manchester City. Nine players have won the award on more than one occasion, with Thierry Henry having won the award on the most occasions, with three wins in four seasons.
Nigel Graham Pearson is an English football manager and former professional player. He was most recently the manager of Championship club Bristol City. During his playing career, he was a defender and played for Shrewsbury Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough. As a coach he has taken charge of Hull City, Southampton, Carlisle United, Leicester City, Derby County, OH Leuven, and Watford; and was assistant manager for England Under-21s and Newcastle United.
Marc Kevin Albrighton is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger or wing-back for EFL Championship club Leicester City.
Daniel Noel Drinkwater is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Riyad Karim Mahrez is a professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli and captains the Algeria national team.
N'Golo Kanté is a French professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad and the France national team. Considered one of the best midfielders of his generation, he is known for his work rate and defensive acumen.
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Onyinye Wilfred Ndidi is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for EFL Championship club Leicester City and the Nigeria national team. Ndidi is known for his defensive prowess.
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The 2016–17 Leicester City season was the club's 112th season in the English football league system and its 49th (non-consecutive) season in the top tier of English football. Leicester City participated in the Premier League for the third consecutive season as well as the FA Cup and EFL Cup. The season covers the period from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017. The club also took part in the pre-season International Champions Cup and entered the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League at the group stage. Leicester City entered the 2016–17 season as reigning Premier League champions after winning the Premier League title in the 2015–16 season.
Erling Braut Haaland is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester City and the Norway national team. Considered one of the best players in the world, he is known for his speed, strength, positioning, and finishing inside the box. In his debut Premier League season, Haaland broke the record for the most goals scored by a player in a single season, with 36.
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