Solskjr will also continue to report to Ed Woodward, Uniteds executive vice chairman, with Murtough doing the same. Moyes felt Murtough would know which questions were pertinent as United adjusted to life after Ferguson, and would ask them in a respectful manner. "#MUFC pic.twitter.com/iiB4GsxxRr. A football administrator since 1997, he understood how clubs worked and the wider regulations better than Woodward, whose career at United to that point had been devoted to commercial growth. In his time working with the academy, the club has produced talents like Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay, Brandon Williams, and Mason Greenwood for the first team. OBoyle is a former academy coach, who was most recently Head of Elite Performance with the Premier League. Its a privilege to be part of that process, and an honour to lead Manchester Uniteds football department, working alongside Ole, Casey [Stoney, womens team manager] and so many other truly outstanding staff all dedicated to delivering success to this club.. Paul McGuinness, son of former United manager Wilf, also left in that period following 23 years on staff, his final role being under-18s manager. He has worked with top-tier English clubs like West Ham, Fulham, and Everton in his 2-decade spanning football career. The model, 30, showed off, Naomi Campbell looked absolutely gorgeous in a pink draping gown as she, John Murtough is 51 years of age in 2022 as per. He was a sports scientist at Everton during the time of David Moyes, before serving as the Premier League's Head of Elite Performance. Manchester United have confirmed that Alejandro Garnacho has committed his long-term future to the club via a new contract. Today, Brown is in a key position as head of recruitment operations. John Murtough has been appointed Man United first-ever director, who will provide day-to-day assistance to club manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. John has been integral to our progress in these areas and his deep understanding of development ensures the clubs traditions of bringing young players through from Academy to first team will continue. He arranged that trip through Paul Mitchell, then Leipzigs head of recruitment and now Monaco sporting director. The Old Trafford side have not won the Premier League in the eight-plus years since Murtough joined them, even if much of the liability for that spreads across previous managers, coaches, players, Woodward, and the Glazer family, who own the club. He was charged with the overhaul of the academy and recruitment department, with the latter now focusing on buying younger players rather than vast sums on experienced talent. Soccer News, Live Scores, Results & Transfer | Goal.com US Transfer. Meanwhile, Solskjr has responded to speculation about Edinson Cavanis future. With such a significant summer ahead, United will appoint a deputy football director to work under Murtough. The Germans time at United will not be fondly remembered, leaving United with the worst win percentage of any manager post Sir Alex Ferguson. The Red Devils have done shoddy business in the transfer market in the years since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure and the appointment of John Murtough to the role is the first signs at the club addressing the issue. Who is John Murtough? The MU director is unavailable on sites like Instagram and Twitter. Manchester United's decision to make John Murtough their first football director surprised many but the club's former Head of Development has played a key role in improving the club's academy . Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. (modern). The 37-year-oldwill also work on the link between Uniteds academy and its first team while focusing on a long-term approach to player and squad development. He stepped into the world on November 24, 1970. Coupled with Woodwards underwhelming transfer policies in recent years, his fate was sealed. To sign up, simply put your email into the box below, and we'll do the rest. Model debuts baby bump at the Met Gala, Bodies of seven people are uncovered in Oklahoma during search for two missing teen girls, Naomi Campbell looks gorgeous in a pink draping gown as she arrives at the Met Gala 2023, Blinken DENIES being behind letter calling Hunter Bidens laptop disinformation, NSW man accused of using stolen identities to defraud $47,000 in Covid grants faces 118 charges. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Murtough, who joined United in January 2014, is being promoted from his current role as head of football development and he will have overall responsibility for all football matters. This honest approach appeared to be one of many factors that irked Murtough, with the United Chief preferring these views to be kept behind closed doors. United are no longer targeting expensive superstars. The mid-season blunder was a costly mistake as it now leaves the club in the Europa League, and unable to attract big stars. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Regularly describedas a 'fixer', Murtough was charged with improving the academy. "We know. Prince gone within two hours of Coronation, Rosanna Davison on moment she heard babys heartbeat after 15 miscarriages, Doireann Garrihy enjoys bank holiday getaway with boyfriend Mark Mehigan, Graeme Souness critical of Harry Kane as Robbie Keane jumps to his defence over Spurs leadership, Player left 'bleeding from neck after alleged assault at Dublin match. Very little is known about a man who shirks the limelight but has an increasingly important role at United. On the horizon is the appointment of a permanent manager to succeed Ralf Rangnick, an interim choice of Murtoughs making. Then, in March last year, he became Uniteds first football director. Paris Saint-Germains former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax coach Erik ten Hag are two of the leading names under consideration, but the process is yet to get going in earnest and further candidates are expected to be explored. A meeting between Woodward and Murtough sealed the deal. Again, United had considered external applicants but felt that Fletcher was the perfect fit, as he is humble, hard-working, intelligent and already a part of the old Ferguson-inspiredculture that Solskjaer is trying to recreate at Old Trafford. According to reports, John Murtough's role will focus onplayer recruitment and ensuring the first-team has the operational support required. Nearly 12 months into the role, there remains an awful lot of fixing to do. But still, he says scammers wiped out his bank account. Founded in 2017 and became a part of The Athletic in 2020. Solskjaers predecessors Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal both went public with their grievances over recruitment. Appointed during the short-lived David Moyes era, he previously worked with the Scottish coach when he was the manager at Everton. Manchester United have finally appointed a football director in John Murtough. These cookies do not store any personal information. Then, in May 2013, Ferguson retired, and Woodward asked successor Moyes for recommendations about a hire to cover academy and scouting departments. Uniteds appointment of Murtough ends a three-year search by the club for someone to fill such a post. What will he do? He will be reporting on Manchester United for The Athletic. He has been working well behind the scenes - he is a cultural fit. We have already made great strides forward in the way we run our football operations, and the benefits are visible in the resurgent pipeline of Academy talent reaching the first team and through our improved recruitment record. Brazil would go on to play a major role in youth development at Nottingham Forest, bringing through the likes of now full internationals Matty Cash and Ben Brereton Diaz. He produced clean, legible documents and, in a small way, brought a sense of order. with the first team, Academy and Womens team all performing strongly, and plenty of development still to come. However, Murtough has long been considered a key figure at Old Trafford. Former midfielder Darren Fletcher has also been named technical director in a major restructure, but it is Murtoughs appointment that has caught the eye. Just two wins from six games in the league so far in 2022 means a place in next seasons Champions League is in jeopardy and there has been a steady trickle of reports of player unrest. The Ronaldo deal happened at speed but he can be regarded as a special case: there was no requirement to run his numbers. Thursday 22 September 2022 05:21 John Murtough has welcomed the "increased unity, focus and drive" brought to Manchester United by Erik ten Hag and reassured fans of the hard work being put in. United have appointed Andy OBoyle as the Deputy Director of Football. John Murtough is the new Football Director alongside Darren Fletcher as Technical Director (Image: Getty) In addition, Fletcher has said that he is delighted to be taking on his new role as Technical Director, and he will be working closely with Murtough in all football and performance areas. With previous reports that United chiefs ignored Rangnicks January shopping list it is easy to see why he would feel that support was not forthcoming. The director of football has kept a low profile before this year and is now central to the clubs recruitment strategy. Murtough, who joined United in January 2014, is being promoted from his current role as head of football development and he will have overall responsibility for all football matters. Murtough led on hiring Rangnick, having first met the German on a fact-finding mission to RB Leipzig in 2018. Roddy saw Murtoughs submission and hired him to assist coaches at other clubs who were struggling to get what was in their heads down on paper. Murtough was said to be instrumental in bringing the former RB Leipzig boss, but things would sour quickly. John Murtough has opened up on Manchester United's decision to appoint Erik ten Hag over the likes of Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, lifting the lid on their talks during interviews Murtough would only become involved in this regard if there was disagreement between the two. The focus now is on signing young players of enormous potential. Surprisingly -- perhaps controversially -- a native of Liverpool, Murtough originally joined Manchester United back in November 2013. The transfer market is a notoriously tricky field but with these long overdue appointments, United have, at the very least, taken another important step forward on a journey they hope eventually ends in Premier League glory. What happens when a club's CEO meets angry supporters? Their manager Chris Coleman made Murtough academy director at Craven Cottage and the pair formed a close bond. Murtough himself learnt from Colin Harvey, a legendary player in Evertons 1969-70 First Division title, who managed the clubs first team for three years before returning to work as youth-team coach under Howard Kendall in 1997. What even is a football director? Sources remember Murtough taking notes in a little black book. Coleman took Murtough with him when he was named Coventry City manager in 2008 before Moyes got in touch six months later offering a return to Merseyside. You'll also receive plenty of tips and info outside of Cheltenham too after all, the Grand National isn't far away either. This is such an exciting time for everyone at. The club have also handed the role of director of football negotiationsto Matt Judge, and he will negotiate transfer deals and contract renewals. Murtough was influential in the club signing exciting teenager Hannibal Mejbri, and revamping the womens side. These are hugely important appointments that reinforce the progress we have been making as a club in recent years in our relentless pursuit of success. After years of calls for Ed Woodward to appoint a director of football, the role has been handed to a relatively unknown but important member of the existing staff. Murtough and Brown have led Uniteds overhaul of scouting, which Woodward once privately likened to turning the oil tanker round. Illustration: Philippe Fenner. Now that Murtoughs name is on the door, as one source put it, he has licence to make bigger decisions. Murtough led on hiring Rangnick, having first met the German on a fact-finding mission to RB Leipzig in 2018. Now, lets just make sure he plays as much as possible before the end of the season, scores as many goals as he can, helps the young players - the strikers, the forwards, even the rest of the group with his mentality then he will make his decision. The Athletic understands one point of debate amid the huge uplift in data collection in the new system has been Uniteds capacity to then act swiftly in the market. #mulive. Murtough started his career as a sports scientist at Everton under former Manchester United manager David Moyes. While Murtough has been well regarded for his work in the academy, his failure to sign Jude Bellingham hasn't gone unnoticed, and the newly appointed director of footballis to compete and beat the best sporting directors in Europe to signings who can re-establish Man United as champions, rather than merely a Champions League qualifiers. Last July, he faced criticism over the womens team, however, with complaints about training conditions and lack of clarity over a new manager. I am delighted that John and Darren have accepted these roles and I look forward to the contribution they will make, together with Ole and the rest of the staff, as we build toward future success., Can United mount a title challenge? Whitwell was nominated for sports scoop of the year at the 2019 SJAs for breaking Wayne Rooneys move to DC United. A hard worker across multiple strands at United, Murtoughs load is set to be eased by the appointment of a deputy. Everton had moved to a new training ground at Finch Farm, with their academy and first team housed on the same site, and Moyes wanted someone to bring the whole operation together and also add to the clubs European recruitment network. Who is John Murtough? 26,159 views Mar 12, 2021 Manchester United have finally appointed their first ever Football Director in John Murtough. All rights reserved. Although with no confirmed signings as yet, Ten Hag must be hoping that Murtough can support him with his shopping list. He had a membership at United in his teens. All Right Reserved by The Peoples Person. United pressed to acquire the Spanish teenagers in the summer of 2020 before Brexit regulations came into effect to limit the transfer of under 18s. Some sources say Arnold hit pause on January signings because of the uncertainty over the next manager and the recruitment strategy, although United insiders insist the club never had any plans to do anything in the winter window apart from to trim the squad, with the focus entirely on the summer. After a couple of years, then-manager Walter Smith promoted Murtough to first-team level. Lets discover more about Afghan cricketer Naveen Ul Haq Parents And Family, Kelsie Davies, a 17-year-old girl, was tragically killed by a vehicle. Murtough started his career as a sports scientist at Everton under former. He served as the Premier League's head of elite performance in 2012 before reuniting with Moyes at Old Trafford in 2013. Some insiders believe there needs to be greater leadership over how that information is used, however, with questions over accountability for selecting targets and pressing ahead with pursuits. Overall, United had a moderate hit-rate on signings in Solskjaers reign, with 40 million midfielder Donny van de Beek, now on loan at Everton for the rest of this season after hardly playing in 18 months at United, perhaps the clearest example of issues somewhere along the chain. 06:55, Thu, Mar 11, . However, it is not all doom and gloom for John Murtough right now. Changes were made at all levels regarding how the club functioned. Last August, Woodward was on the phone to superagent Jorge Mendes in his neighbour Gary Linekers garden to arrange Cristiano Ronaldos return to the club after 12 years with Real Madrid and then Juventus. Fletcher will now be responsible for selling the club to potential new signings from a sporting and technical perspective. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The club hierarchy passed on all available elite options to appoint Ralf Rangnick as interim boss. The Liverpool-born football expert has been closely working with MUFC since 2016. Murtough has been playing the long game to not give into player or agents demands. United are getting wiser and that is a good thing for all involved. He has shown the . After all, the 'director of football' debate hadbeen raging around Old Trafford for many years. The former midfielder has been promoted from first-team coach to technical director. Nicky Butt stepped away from his job as head of first-team development after missing out on the positions now held by Murtough and Fletcher. According to John Murtoughs Wikipedia bio, he has been serving as Man Uniteds first-ever football director since last year. . This appointment builds on the work John has already undertaken in recent years, working closely with Ole Gunnar Solskjr and the rest of the football staff to create the structures, processes and culture to deliver sustained success on the pitch. Arnold explained that the money is present, and John Murtough is working day and night to get deals done. He is in charge of the football clubs recruitment and football strategies. The net result, though, is that Woodward now believes he has a system in place that will make United even more successful in the transfer market than they have been in recent windows, which is precisely why he feels comfortable taking a step back. Murtough began accompanying Woodward to certain meetings, offering advice, and taking minutes. Meanwhile, fans have had to watch their rivals snap up some top talents to better their futures. 'The Fixer' - Why Man Utd have made John Murtough their first football director. Exploring another try for Bellingham, now at Borussia Dortmund, may come onto Murtoughs desk in his new role. Solskjaer appointed personal scout Simon Wells to gain a foothold in the process and trusted assistant Mike Phelan with trips to check out Bruno Fernandes and Bellingham. All of it came to a head when club CEO Richard Arnold met a group of disgruntled fans at a pub near his home. Alejandro Garnacho confirms Man Utd future as John Murtough explains how he earned contract extension; Alejandro Garnacho confirms Man Utd future as John Murtough explains how he earned contract extension. It meant professionalising the process and spotting any gaps in education or training that needed filling. John Murtough (@MurtoughMUFC) | Twitter John Murtough @MurtoughMUFC First ever Director of Football at @ ManUtd | Basically a post created to shift the blame from Glazers and Woodward to someone else | PARODY | # mufc Joined March 2021 Tweets Tweets & replies Media Pinned Tweet John Murtough @MurtoughMUFC Aug 27 Meet Manchester United's new director of football. Manchester United's search for a new manager will be "thorough," according to football director John Murtough, with the new man tasked with returning the club to top of domestic and European football. A simple Google search of 'Manchester United' and 'Director of Football' would producea long list of famous names. Continuity and fresh ideas." However, his first full season would be far from ideal, culminating in a sorry end. 2021. For example, it was reported he travelled to Norway with French youth scout Mathieu Seckinger to watch Hannibal Mejbri as a 16-year-old before they splashed the cash to sign him from Monaco. Murtough has a wider remit as the line manager for academy, recruitment and operations. In this new role, the first in our history, he will deliver technical advice across all aspects of the football department as well as contributing to the communication and delivery of our football philosophy across all areas of the club. Something went wrong, please try again later. In 2013, he followed Moyes to Old Trafford and became Head of Football Development. United have signed players such as Raphael Varane, whose availability was raised by agents with United detailing extensive reports, but sources say there has been a reluctance from above to actively gather significant information on possible targets at Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich.