Norwich City are facing a pivotal moment in their recruitment strategy as Robbie Thelwell, the head of technical scouting and loan management, prepares to join Glasgow Rangers. This move reunites him with his father, Kevin Thelwell, who has recently taken on the role of sporting director at the Scottish club.
At 39, Thelwell will step into the position of head of recruitment at Rangers, as reported by the Rangers Review. He enters a challenging environment, with former Norwich player Russell Martin currently under pressure as head coach. Rangers have had a difficult start to the season, sitting eighth in the Scottish Premiership, although they did secure their first league victory last Sunday, courtesy of a late goal from Max Aarons, another product of Norwich's youth system.
In anticipation of Thelwell's departure, Norwich City are actively seeking candidates to fill the vacancy he will leave. The club is considering both internal options and potential external hires to ensure a smooth transition in their recruitment strategy. It is significant that loan management was previously a separate function until Thelwell's appointment in July 2024, which followed the exit of first-team coach Andy Hughes to Leicester City.
Thelwell's journey with Norwich City began in September 2023, after he joined from Aston Villa, where he had spent nearly three years. At Villa, he advanced from a video scout to a first-team scout. Before his time at Aston Villa, he served as a technical scout at Wolverhampton Wanderers from October 2016 until December 2020.
During his tenure at Carrow Road, Thelwell played a crucial role in a particularly active summer transfer window for the club. His efforts were instrumental in the recruitment of 12 senior players, including notable signings such as Mathias Kvistgaarden for £6.9 million and Premier League winner Jeffrey Schlupp. His influence also extended to the arrivals of Ante Crnac, Jose Cordoba, and Anis Ben Slimane.
As Robbie Thelwell embarks on this new chapter with Rangers, Norwich City must act decisively to uphold the integrity of their recruitment strategy during this critical period.