BEVERLY HILLS, March 10, (THEWILL) – English Premier League side Manchester United have named John Murtough as the club’s new football director. At the same time, as part of a structural reshuffle, the club appointed former player Darren Fletcher as technical director.
This fulfils a long desire in the United establishment for some sort of director of football or technical director to oversee the club’s long-term football and strategy. The club had previously been linked with recruitment-oriented club officials and transfer specialists like Monchi, Fabio Paratici or Luis Campos, United opted to look inwards.
They have therefore invested with a focus on development, by picking both Murtough and Fletcher who were already both employed by the club.
The 47-year-old Murtough initially joined United in 2014 and was previously given the title of ‘head of football development’, while Fletcher returned to Old Trafford in a coaching capacity last year and in January, he was promoted to the first-team staff.
In his position, Murtough will have “overall leadership and responsibility for operations and strategy across all football functions, reinforcing the strong foundations already in place”, according to the club’s statement.
However, the new title of “football director” actually is a continuation of Murtough’s previous role rather than a sudden shift. It will see him carry on the work he was already doing in terms of creating structures and processes that will deliver success on the pitch, including an overhaul of the academy and recruitment.
On his part, Fletcher will collaborate with Murtough, to provide technical input, though his primary focus will be a long-term approach to player and squad development and maintaining the important link between the academy and the first-team at Old Trafford.
As part of the reshuffle, Matt Judge, the club’s Head of Corporate Development, has been given a new title as Director of Football Negotiations and will report to Murtough directly in this new role.
United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, said about this reshuffle: “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.
“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.
“John has been integral to our progress in all these areas and his deep understanding of development ensures the club’s traditions of bringing young players through from academy to first team will continue. This new position is a natural evolution that harnesses his leadership qualities and his years of experience in the game.”
They have all been tasked to resume immediately.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
