The announcement that Angus Kinnear will be leaving Leeds United and taking up a new role at Everton come the end of the season hardly came as a surprise.
That Kinnear’s eight years at Elland Road were coming to an end had begun to feel like a pretty poorly-guarded secret, if truth be told.
Leeds United Newsexclusively reported a week ago that Everton felt a deal to bring Angus Kinnear to Merseyside was done.
Leeds United’s long-serving chief executive appeared to have his heart set upon a fresh start. Everton are under new ownership – the Friedkin Group ending Farhad Moshiri’s tumultuous reign – and are hurtling towards one of the most important periods in their modern history.
The Toffees, who now look safe from relegation thanks largely to David Moyes’ remarkable impact since returning, are set to leave their beloved Goodison Park for a new beginning at that long-awaited Bramley-Moore Docks-based arena.
And Kinnear, who will begin life as Everton’s new CEO on July 1st, is the man the Friedkin’s have settled upon to oversee such a transition.
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Everton announce Angus Kinnear as CEO leaves Leeds United
The former Arsenal and West Ham director was The Toffees’ first-choice target despite interest in Fulham chief Alistair MacIntosh and Vinai Venkatesham, once of the Emirates.
“Angus is one of England’s leading football executives,” Everton Executive Chairman Marc Watts says, Kinnear’s impending move across the Pennines finally confirmed.
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“[Kinnear] brings a wealth of relevant experience. His appointment means Everton will go into the summer with a first-class leader.”
Back at the Championship table-toppers, Leeds United have reportedly identified Samir Arabi as someone capable of coming in as part of a post-Kinnear shake-up. The former Arminia Bielefeld chief is allegedly under consideration for a sporting director role in West Yorkshire.
Leeds United Newshave also been informed that the San Francisco 49ers could use those Red Bull connections in order to help offset the departure of the influential Kinnear.
While not a former Red Bull employee, Arabi may have caught the eye of the energy drink giants during Arminia Bielefeld’s two-year spell back in the Bundesliga recently.
Arminia secured a famous 2-0 win away to RB Leipzig back in 2021.
Paraag Marathe welcomes Peter McCormick to Leeds
Leeds have confirmed that Peter McCormick will join the club as Executive Vice Chairman in the meantime.
The 49ers are continuing their plans to expand Elland Road. And, according to Leeds’ official website, McCormick will play a major role in ‘stadium redevelopment’, as well as ‘strategic planning and commercial matters’.
“I want to thank Angus for his commitment and service for so many years, and for being a fantastic steward and leader of the club,” Marathe writes in his statement. “As we move forward, I am confident that the incredible talent across our team will sustain our success.
“In the meantime, I look forward to continuing to work with both Angus and Peter as we fight for promotion in the coming weeks.”