Bournemouth have appointed former player Matt Ritchie as technical director to replace Simon Francis.
The 36-year-old joins after an agreement was reached with Reading to bring him back to the south coast, following Francis’s expected departure to Saudi Arabia.
It was considered important for the Cherries to have a former player working alongside experienced sporting director Tiago Pinto, helping the club remain close to its players and maintain an understanding of its values.
His responsibilities will include recruitment, player pathways, squad planning and overall football strategy.
Ritchie made 142 appearances for Bournemouth, scoring 31 goals. He has also been part of Champions League squads at other clubs and has represented Scotland at international level.
Meanwhile, Pinto has a pre-existing relationship with Ritchie, who has been working towards his coaching A Licence in the club’s academy.
