Academy legend Tony Whelan leaves Manchester United after 34 years
Written by
Training Ground Guru
January 27, 2025
Manchester United have paid tribute to the “incredible service” of Tony Whelan following his departure from the club after more than 34 years.
Whelan came through the youth ranks at United under Sir Matt Busby and later played for their reserves, before being invited back to coach in their Academy in 1990 by Nobby Stiles and Brian Kidd. He went on to become the Academy Head of Coaching and was Academy Programme Adviser during his latter years at the club, but these job titles don’t fully reflect the impact he had.
A total of 97 Academy graduates made their first-team debuts for United during his time at the club. One of them, Danny Webber, described Whelan as “player, coach, mentor, figurehead… someone who has meant a lot to a lot of people.”
In 2020, the 70-year-old was recipient of the Premier League’s Eamonn Dolan Award for his outstanding contribution to youth development. In an email this afternoon, Academy Director Nick Cox informed staff of Whelan’s departure.
“I wanted to make you all aware that Tony Whelan’s last day in his role of Academy Advisor was December 31st2024,” Cox said. “Tony didn’t want a big announcement made or any attention drawn to his departure.
“As has often been the case during his time at the club, Tony did not seek the limelight. Tony made an immense contribution to the football club since returning in 1990, having first represented United as a player between 1968 and 1973.
“He gave more than 30 years’ service to the club, holding a variety of roles including Soccer Schools Coach, Academy Coach, Head of Coaching and most recently Academy Advisor. Tony transcended many eras at United having played under Sir Matt Busby, worked closely with Sir Alex Ferguson and played a key role in crafting our world leading youth development system. His work, along with other talented colleagues, to launch the Academy in its modern form in 1998 paved the way for the success that we see today.
"We will all miss his daily presence at Carrington, the Cliff and Littleton Road, but know that the culture he helped to create will serve as a fitting legacy."
Nick Cox, Academy Director
“There are countless amounts of professional footballers, not least the 97 Academy graduates who have made their debuts for United during his time at the club, who will be grateful for the impact that Tony had on their careers and lives. Although, you will all know, that Tony’s passion and priority was always to ensure that every single player, regardless of their ability, was given the appropriate support to be able to enjoy football as part of healthy childhood so that they could develop the personal qualities required to go on to be outstanding young adults.
“An approach that we strive to ensure is evident in the way that we work today. Tony embodied the ethos of United’s Academy and is beloved by players of all ages, parents and colleagues alike. We will forever be grateful for the important role that he has played in shaping our Academy.
“Tony often remarked ‘that it was his honour to carry the baton of youth development from one generation to the next’. On celebrating his 30 years of service in 2022 Tony quoted Sir Isaac Newton stating that ‘if I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants’. He was proud of our clubs history and was proud to have the responsibility to act as a custodian of our traditions and values.
“These humble mantras sum him up in many ways. We will all miss his daily presence at Carrington, the Cliff and Littleton Road but know that the culture, that he helped to create, and the players, whose development he supported, will serve as a fitting legacy to his incredible service to Manchester United. Tony recently had the indoor pitch at The Cliff named after him; a fitting reminder for staff that work their of their responsibilities in caring for young people.
Tony has taken some time away visiting family over the last few weeks but he knows that he will always be a welcome visitor at the club. I have also expressed to him that we hope to be able to continue to benefit from his knowledge and experiences when he is ready to do so.”
Shaped by Busby, Charlton and Ferguson
Whelan grew up in Stretford, close to United’s OId Trafford stadium, and signed for the club as an associate schoolboy in 1968 at the age of 16. This was, of course, a pretty significant year for United, because it was when they became European champions for the first time.
“Sir Matt (Busby) was my first manager – a very dignified person who had a particular bearing about him,” Whelan remembered.
Although he played for the reserves and first team during a tour of the United States in 1970, Whelan did not make a senior appearance for the club and instead played for Manchester City, for a couple of seasons, then for Rochdale and Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta and Los Angeles in the United States.
He began his coaching badges in Tampa and returned to England in 1982 to complete them with the Football Association at Lilleshall. He was a social worker before being invited back to coach at United in 1990 by Nobby Stiles and Brian Kidd, the Busby Babes who were by now heading up the club’s Academy.
“I just used all the knowledge and experience about working with young people and interacting with them that I’d picked up from social work,” Whelan remembered in an MUTV interview to mark his 70th birthday.
He also coached at the Bobby Charlton Soccer Schools for several years and gained valuable lessons from the United and England legend.
“I remember Sir Bobby saying, ‘I want every day to be like Christmas Day for them.’ What good advice! That’s what I have tried to do in my coaching. It’s got to be fun and joyous.
“It’s tough, but the journey should still be a good one, a happy one, a childhood one. So we are not getting carried away about being professional too soon.”
Former United U18s Head Coach Paul McGuinness described Whelan as “the heartbeat of the United Academy for three decades.”
“His expertise in childhood football development is so refined and natural that few would be able to see the subtleties of his work: the precise barometer to measure and create the perfect atmosphere for child development.”
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