Have a look at the bio, age and nationality of Sudarshan Gopaladesikan
Newcastle United have made a bold move in their technical setup by appointing Sudarshan Gopaladesikan as their new Technical Director, find out more about him below
Sudarshan has notably built a strong reputation in the football world for merging analytics with football strategy.
Who is Sudarshan Gopaladesikan, Newcastle United’s Technical Director: Biography, age, nationality, ethnicity and education
We have appointed Sudarshan Gopaladesikan as our new Technical Director 🤝
Sudarshan joins after leaving Atalanta, where he was Director of Football Intelligence, and will lead football data operations for our men’s, women’s and Academy teams.
Welcome to Newcastle United, Suds!
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) July 21, 2025
Who is new #NUFC technical director Sudarshan Gopaladesikan? ✍🏼
Age: 33
Nationality: American
Nickname – Suds
X handle – @suds_gPrevious roles (selected):
Benfica – Head of Sports Data Science
Atalanta – Head of Football IntelligenceStyle/Abilities:
A 2014 graduate from… pic.twitter.com/wPYLCaIsAf
— Magpie Media (@MagpieMediaX) July 21, 2025
Gopaladesikan has already garnered a wealth of experience from his work with top European clubs and he is now set to help reshape Newcastle.
Sudarshan Gopaladesikan appointed as new Newcastle United Technical Director
Sudarshan Gopaladesikan has taken over as Technical Director at Newcastle United, where he will oversee all football data operations across the club’s men’s, women’s, and academy teams. He will work closely with manager Eddie Howe and his coaching staff while also collaborating with the performance, medical, recruitment, and analysis departments. He will lead all football data operations and work directly with Eddie Howe, the coaching staff, and the club’s performance, medical, analysis, methodology, and recruitment units.
Following his new appointment, Suds shared:
I’m delighted and honoured to be joining Newcastle United as Technical Director. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with clubs that have deeply passionate fanbases, and Newcastle stands out for its unique connection between the team, the city and its supporters. I’m excited to work alongside the club’s talented staff to identify what helps give us a competitive edge. Most of all, I’m looking forward to experiencing the incredible matchday atmosphere at St. James’ Park and being part of this proud football family and community.”
Sudarshan Gopaladesikan biography and age
Sudarshan Gopaladesikan is a highly respected football intelligence expert who was recently appointed as the new technical director for Newcastle. He is often called “Suds” by peers and colleagues, and he is currently 33 years old. He is widely known for combining deep analytical insight with football decision-making. He has previously worked at some of Europe’s most respected clubs, including Atalanta and Benfica.
Sudarshan Gopaladesikan ; Date of birth/Age: Jun 10, 1992 (33) ; Citizenship: United States
Education
Sudarshan Gopaladesikan graduated from Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, 2014, with a degree in engineering and data science, following which he studied sports analytics.
Stanford University Graduate School of Business
LEAD Program, Leadership, Mar 2025 – Mar 2026
Swarthmore College: Mathematics, 2010 – 2014
Central Dauphin High School
2006 – 2010
A Stanford University graduate, Gopaladesikan has worked in multiple countries including the US, India, Portugal and Italy and knows four languages, including Tamil and Italian.
He moved to the United States to pursue a PhD in biokinesiology and physical therapy at the University of Southern California and his career in elite sport began with the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball, followed by a stint at the English Institute of Sport — working with Olympic and high-performance athletes across disciplines.
Nationality and ethnicity
Sudarshan Gopaladesikan is of Indian origin and holds American nationality.
Career
Prior to joining Newcastle, Suds worked as Director of Football Intelligence at Serie A club Atalanta. Under his guidance, the team managed to secure three consecutive top-five finishes, lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy, and even reached the Coppa Italia final.
He previously spent five years at Portuguese giants SL Benfica as Head of Sports Data Science, where he helped the men’s team clinch the Primeira Liga title and reach the quarter-finals of both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. Under his guidance, Benfica’s women’s team has also won two national titles, while the academy side won the 2021/22 UEFA Youth League after two final appearances.
Outside of club football, Sudarshan Gopaladesikan lectures for FIFA’s Executive Education programs and the PFA Business School. He has also previously worked with global companies like Microsoft, Infosys and other top-tier sporting organizations.
Gopaladesikan began his career in 2012 as an intern at Infosys in Bengaluru and then moved to Microsoft. In 2017, he transitioned into football, joining Portuguese club SL Benfica and at Benfica, he served as Head of ‘Sports Data Science’. In 2022, Gopaladesikan joined Atalanta BC as ‘Director of Football Intelligence’ and continued in his role for three years before moving to the Premier League.