Bolton Wanderers Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Fergal Harkin as the Club's new Sporting Director.
Harkin brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to the role, having most recently served as Sporting Director at Standard Liège. During his tenure at the Belgian Pro League club, Harkin oversaw all aspects of the club's sporting strategy, including player recruitment, development and transfers, as well as managing the academy.
Prior to Standard Liege, Harkin spent over a decade at Manchester City, rising to Football Partnerships and Pathways Manager, where he played a key role in developing and implementing the club's global football strategy. His experience also includes a successful period at Nike in both sales and sports marketing roles.
Harkin's career began as a professional footballer. Starting with Leicester City, while studying at Loughborough University, Fergal gained experience in the English football system before moving to the League of Ireland. There he made over 100 appearances for Bohemian FC across two spells, winning the League of Ireland Premier Division title in 2003 and earning Player of the Year awards in both 2005 and 2006. He also enjoyed a successful period with Finn Harps, where he was named Player of the Year in 1999-2000 and played in the FAI Cup Final.
As Sporting Director, Harkin will be responsible for overseeing all of Bolton Wanderers’ football operations, including player recruitment, academy development, scouting, sports science and performance analysis. He will work closely with Head Coach Steven Schumacher, the coaching staff and other key personnel to implement the club’s football strategy and achieve its ambitious goals both on and off the pitch.
Bolton Wanderers Chairman Sharon Brittan said: "This is a momentous occasion for Bolton Wanderers. The appointment of Fergal as our Sporting Director marks a significant step forward in our journey to continue our progress and build a sustainable future.
“Fergal's experience, vision and deep understanding of the modern football landscape are exactly what we need to take the Club to the next level. His proven ability to identify, develop and recruit talent, coupled with his strategic approach to football operations, makes him the ideal candidate to lead our sporting vision.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome him to Bolton Wanderers and look forward to a long and successful partnership."
Fergal Harkin - who will join Wanderers at the end of the Belgian domestic season - added: “I am thrilled and honoured to join Bolton Wanderers at such an exciting time in the Club’s history. I have been deeply impressed by the Club's ambition, the passion of the fans and the clear vision set out by the ownership.
“Bolton Wanderers is a club with tremendous potential and I am eager to play my part in helping the Club achieve its goals and return to its rightful place in the upper echelons of English football.
“I am committed to building a strong and sustainable football infrastructure, from the academy to the first team, that will enable us to compete at the highest level and deliver consistent success for our supporters. I'm excited to get started, meet the players, staff and fans, and work together to create a bright future for Bolton Wanderers. Together, I believe we can achieve great things.”