Begiristain tops sporting director list
- Published
Manchester City's departed executive Txiki Begiristain has ranked first in a study of sporting directors based on the value added to their club's squad from incoming transfers.
Premier League figures Dougie Freedman, Ross Wilson and Phil Giles also ranked inside the top 10 in the review carried out by industry advisors Transfer Room.
City's spending in the transfer market during Begiristain's tenure at Etihad Stadium has been well-documented, but according to figures, the Spanish transfer specialist added a net value of €455m (£399m) to the squad from 23 players signed at a cost of €875m (£768m) over a 10-year period.
Having joined City in 2012, the 61-year-old left the club earlier this year and was replaced by Hugo Viana.
When he left, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: "Txiki is a legend, and I don't use that word lightly. Wat Txiki has accomplished, has been integral in the success of this club part.
"If you're going to go to the Oxford Dictionary and search for 'football director', I think the image and picture of Txiki should be the image that appears."
Freedman, who left Crystal Palace for a position in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, placed third in the study - behind Begiristain and Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Timmo Hardung.
Current Newcastle sporting director Wilson placed fifth with Brentford's Phil Giles in seventh.