Full name Paul Mitchell Name Paul Mitchell | Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | |
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Date of birth (1981-08-26) 26 August 1981 (age 34) Current team Tottenham Hotspur (Head of Recruitment) | ||
Place of birth Manchester, England Playing position | ||
Paul Mitchell (born 26 August 1981) is an English former footballer and former 'Head of Recruitment' for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. As a defender and midfielder, he has represented for outfits such as Wigan Athletic, Halifax Town, Swindon Town, Milton Keynes Dons, Wrexham and Barnet.
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Playing career
He started his career in 1999 with Wigan Athletic where he stayed for six years. Mitchell left Wigan shortly after their promotion to the Premiership, a campaign in which he made just one league appearance against Leeds United. During this time he was loaned out to Halifax Town in 2001, Swindon Town in 2004 and Milton Keynes Dons in 2005. He transferred fully to the Dons in 2005, where he played until 2008 with short loan spells in 2007 to Wrexham and 2008 to Barnet FC. Mitchell made over 70 appearances for the Milton Keynes Dons and was also the captain for a short while.
On 6 January 2009, Mitchell announced his retirement from professional football age 27, owing to injury following a bad break to his leg and ankle during his team's 2–2 draw at Notts County on 2 February 2007. On retirement Milton Keynes Dons announced that he will take up a role as 'Community Ambassador' with the clubs Sport and Education trust.
In June 2010, Mitchell took part and completed a 1000-mile bike ride for Charity 'Help for Heroes' in memory of ex-Wigan apprentice and close friend Lee Ellis. The team of five, made up of Mkdons friends and staff raised over £20,000 for the charity.
Recruitment career
Following the appointment of MK Dons Manager Karl Robinson in 2010, a recruitment division was later created at the league 1 club and recognising Mitchell's ability both on and off the pitch, Robinson assigned him to his back room staff as 'Head of Recruitment'.
In January 2012, 'Mitch' made a significant move away from MK Dons to join Championship club Southampton as 'Head of Recruitment' at the young age of 30. Leaving behind seven years of service to the MK Dons, the Chairman paid tribute to Mitch by welcoming him back in the future as a 'close friend of the club'.
Mitchell went on to play his part in Southampton's promotion to the Premier League in 2012. In November 2014, Mitchell gave Southampton notice and joined Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.