Bhubaneswar: Newcastle United have officially appointed Sudarshan Gopaladesikan as their new Technical Director, ahead of the 2025-26 Premier League and UEFA Champions League campaigns. Gopaladesikan, widely known as “Suds,” will lead the club’s football data operations and implement data-informed practices across all sporting departments, including the men’s, women’s, and Academy teams.
At 33 years old, Gopaladesikan joins Newcastle following three successful seasons as Director of Football Intelligence at Atalanta in Serie A. During his tenure in Italy, Atalanta secured three consecutive top-five finishes in Serie A, won the UEFA Europa League in 2024, and reached an Italian Cup final. Prior to Atalanta, he was Head of Sports Data Science at Benfica for five seasons, where he contributed to the men’s team winning the Primeira Liga title, reaching quarter-finals in both the Champions League and Europa League, and supported Benfica’s women and youth teams to national and European success.
Before his football career, Gopaladesikan worked as a Program Manager at Microsoft and also had a stint at Infosys, combining a strong technical background with a passion for football. A 2014 graduate of Swarthmore College, he is recognized for adopting a “Moneyball”-style, data-driven approach to football management and decision-making.
In his new role, Suds will collaborate closely with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and the coaching staff, alongside departments such as performance, medical, analysis, methodology, and recruitment. He will report to the yet-to-be-appointed Sporting Director following the departure of Paul Mitchell in June 2025.
Expressing his excitement, Gopaladesikan said, “I’m delighted and honoured to be joining Newcastle United as Technical Director. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with clubs that have deeply passionate fanbases, and Newcastle stands out for its unique connection between the team, the city and its supporters. I look forward to being part of this proud football family and community.”
In addition to his club roles, Gopaladesikan lectures on data-driven decision-making for FIFA’s Executive Education programmes and the Professional Footballers’ Association Business School, underscoring his expertise in sports analytics.
Newcastle United’s appointment of Sudarshan Gopaladesikan signals a clear commitment to innovative, analytics-driven football operations as the club aims for success on multiple fronts in the coming seasons.
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