Dr. Ian Mitchell has bid farewell to the Football Association of Wales (FAW) to take up a new position as the head of psychology at Newcastle United, a Premier League club. In April, Mitchell returned to the FAW as the head of performance psychology, having previously worked there from 2014 to 2018. Following his first tenure with the FAW, he spent five years with the Football Association in England. Mitchell, a former Hereford United player, also had experience working with Swansea City during their time in the Premier League.

While he is leaving his full-time role with the FAW to join Newcastle United, Mitchell will maintain his involvement with the Wales senior men’s team for the remainder of their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. Mitchell expressed his excitement about his new role with Newcastle United, citing their participation in the Champions League as a significant opportunity that influenced his decision to leave the FAW on a full-time basis.

However, he is pleased to continue his role with the men’s national team in support of the broader high-performance strategy during the European Championship campaign.

Dr. David Adams, the FAW’s chief football officer, acknowledged the valuable contributions made by Ian Mitchell in enhancing performance psychology across national teams. He emphasized the importance of this area in supporting athletes’ performance both on and off the field. Mitchell will remain an advisor on various aspects of the high-performance strategy and provide support to Rob Page, the Wales manager, and the men’s team in their ongoing journey to qualify for the European Championship.