Former Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has returned to football, taking up the role of director of football at Danish club FC Copenhagen. The 47-year-old left Sunderland earlier this year and now faces the challenge of restoring the fortunes of one of Denmark's most historic clubs.
New Role and Immediate Challenges
Speakman's appointment comes after a difficult season for FC Copenhagen, which saw them play in the relegation division for the first time in their history. However, a victory in the division's European play-off secured their place in the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League qualification stage. Speakman's immediate priority is to support head coach Bo Svensson in assembling a first-team squad capable of winning the Danish championship and qualifying for the Conference League.
FC Copenhagen announced that Speakman emerged as the preferred candidate following a rigorous and extensive recruitment process. He will officially begin his duties on July 1, 2026.
Speakman's Vision and Motivation
Speaking to reporters, Speakman expressed his pride in joining the club. "I am proud to take up the position of director of football at such a fantastic club as FC Copenhagen. Here is a very special history and a unique fan base, which places great demands on everyone in the club," he said. "The task is to continuously develop and improve all our sporting functions and in this way bring the trophies back to Copenhagen. Our ambitions are unchanged, but our approach must be developed so that we can secure the foundation for continued success. It is a task that motivates me a lot."
He added: "There is clearly a lot to do, both in the short and long term. The immediate priority is to support Bo Svensson and the sporting team by putting together a first-team squad that can qualify for the UEFA Conference League and win the championship – that work is already well underway. In the long term, I will lead the work of defining the strategic roadmap that will strengthen our sporting position across all teams and functions."
CEO Praises Strategic Insight
FC Copenhagen CEO Jacob Lauesen highlighted Speakman's strategic vision and experience as key factors in his appointment. "We have discussed the upcoming transformation in detail with Kristjaan throughout the process, and his strategic insight and experience have already proven to be defining for the plan to be rolled out," Lauesen said. "Here is a man who knows what he wants and how to do it. It is simply a pleasure. In our evaluation process, we have identified a number of areas that need to be optimised as soon as possible. Kristjaan is the right person to lead this development. He has impressive hands-on experience and a holistic, visionary approach. I am very much looking forward to our collaboration and to setting new milestones with FC Copenhagen."
Background and Departure from Sunderland
Speakman left Sunderland earlier in 2026 after serving as sporting director. His tenure at the English club involved overseeing player recruitment and development. His move to FC Copenhagen marks a return to a club with a rich history and high expectations, as they aim to bounce back from a rare poor season and reclaim their status as Danish football leaders.
