A FORMER talent spotter for Celtic has left his sporting director role in Saudi Arabia.
Lee Congerton has parted company with Al-Ahli after just over a year in the role.
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The 51-year-old had been linked with a move to AC Milan to become their sports director last month, but that position has gone to Igli Tare.
It’s not known what his next step is but he says he “cherishes” his time at the Saudi Pro League side.
Congerton said: “My journey with Al Ahli was filled with challenges and opportunities.
“I am grateful to the entire team for their support.
“I take pride in what we achieved, especially winning three titles, including a continental championship with the first team — a milestone I will always cherish.”
The 51-year-old joined Celtic in 2017 and oversaw the club’s scouting department during Brendan Rodgers’ first spell in charge at the Hoops.
They first started working together at Chelsea.
There were success stories such as Odsonne Edouard and Moussa Dembele arriving and leaving in big money moves.
But he left after two years to join Premier League side Leicester City alongside Rodgers, and was later critical at what he saw was a lack of investment in the transfer market at the club.
He told the Daily Telegraph: “At Celtic we had no money. Peter Lawwell is a nice man, he’s an accountant.
“Brendan spoke to me and said we needed pace and power, speed.
“Two of the other players we tried to sign during my time were [Moussa] Diaby, who is now at Aston Villa, and [Christopher] Nkunku who is now at Chelsea.
“But there were several players I didn’t want to be anywhere near them and that is why I left. Peter knows that and so did Brendan.”
“We all know PSG has an amazing youth programme with players at the time who were never going to play for PSG.”
Congerton started out as an assistant manager at Liverpool, before having spells at Chelsea, Hamburg and Sunderland.
The Welshman was reportedly on Milan’s radar after his success as head of football at Atalanta, where he is credited with signing Rasmus Hojlund for around £18million and selling him on to Man Utd for £72milllion.
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