Manchester United staff profiles
Written by Simon Austin — March 30, 2018
Pen pics of Manchester United's coaching, science, medicine and analytics staff. To see staff profiles for other clubs, click here.
MANAGER
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Nationality: Norwegian
Legendary player for the club, scoring 91 goals in 235 games - including winner in 1999 Champions League final. Brought in on loan from Molde as caretaker manager after Jose Mourinho was sacked. Position was made permanent at the end of March.
HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT
John Murtough
Nationality: English
Joined in November 2013, having been Head of Elite Performance at Premier League. Previously in charge of the Academy at Everton. Role has some of the same functions as a Sporting Director.
ASSISTANTS
ASSISTANT
Mike Phelan
Nationality: English
Played at United under Sir Alex Ferguson and then worked for him for 12 years during the most successful period in the club's history. Was the Scot's first-team coach from 2001 and then assistant from 2008 to 2013. Initially brought in on an interim basis from Central Coast Mariners, before his role was made permanent in May 2019.
ASSISTANT
Mark Dempsey
Nationality: English
Made two appearances as a player for United under Ron Atkinson. Assisted Solskjaer at Cardiff City in 2014 and then at Molde. Has managerial experience himself, with Haugesund, Djurgarden, Start and Kongsvinger.
FIRST TEAM COACH
Michael Carrick
Nationality: English
Retired at the end of the season after 12 years as a United player. Won five Premier League titles and the Champions League. Holds the Uefa Pro Licence and Mourinho sees him as an important link with the players.
FIRST TEAM COACH
Kieran McKenna
Nationality: Northern Ireland
Appointed at the end of 2017/18 after Mourinho reshuffled his backroom team following the exit of Rui Faria. Joined from Spurs in August 2016 to coach the U18s and has built a good reputation.
SENIOR GOALKEEPER COACH
Richard Hartis
Nationality: English
Was Head of Academy Goalkeeping at United from 2000 to 2010. Worked with first team in 2007/8, when they won the Premier League and Champions League. Worked on Solskjaer's staff at Cardiff and Molde and brought back to Old Trafford by the Norwegian in June 2019. Appointed June 2019.
GOALKEEPER COACH
Emilio Alvarez
Nationality: Spanish
Appointed in July 2016, mainly because of his close relationship with United keeper David de Gea. Helped bring through the Spain international from the age of 18 at Atletico Madrid.
MEDICAL & SPORTS SCIENCE
LEAD SPORTS SCIENTIST
Ed Leng
Nationality: English
Officially joined in June 2019 from Melbourne City, where he had been Head of Sports Science since June 2015. Prior to that worked for Tottenham's Academy for six years. Replaces Robin Thorpe, who left for Altis in April.
HEAD OF HUMAN PERFORMANCE
Richard Hawkins
Nationality: English
Joined United in 2008, having been Head of Sports Science at the Football Association and West Brom. In charge of United's physiology testing lab.
HEAD OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE
Steve McNally
Nationality: English
Was medic at Liverpool's Academy for eight years before joining United in July 2006. Publicly praised for his work by Sir Alex Ferguson on many occasions.
SENIOR SPORTS SCIENTIST
David Kelly
Nationality: English
At Barnsley and Darlington before joining United in 2010. Monitors training loads using tools such as GPS.
HEAD PHYSIO
Richard Merron
Nationality: English
Stepped up from Academy to swap places with Neil Hough, who had held the position since 2014.
PHYSIO
Jonny Picot
Nationality: English
Stepped up from Academy to first team with Richard Merron at the start of the 2017/18 season.
PHYSIO
John Davin
Nationality: English
A one-club man, having been at United for more than 20 years.
SPORTS SCIENCE & FITNESS
Paolo Gaudino
Nationality: Italian
Studied for a PhD at Liverpool John Moore's University before getting a job at United in July 2012. Praised by Matteo Darmian for helping him settle into the club.
SPORTS THERAPIST
Rod Thornley
Nationality: English
Brother of Ben, the former United winger. With United since 2000.
SOFT TISSUE THERAPIST
Garry Armer
Nationality: English
At United since July 2002, having previously held the same role at arch rivals Liverpool.
FITNESS COACH
Charlie Owen
Nationality: English
Promoted from Academy to first team in March 2019 following exits of Gary Walker and Robin Thorpe. Had been working with U18s since start of 2017/18.
STRENGTH & POWER COACH
Michael Clegg
Nationality: English
Made 15 starts for the club as a full-back between 1996 and 2002. His father (also called Mike) was power and conditioning coach for United between 2000 and 2011. The former Sunderland S&C coach was appointed by United in July 2019.
ANALYSTS
HEAD OF FIRST TEAM ANALYSIS
Paul Brand
Nationality: Scottish
Background is in stats and coding: a major growth area in professional football. Was with Blackburn Rovers before joining United in 2013.
PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Luke Lazenby
Nationality: English
Promoted from U18s to first team in December 2018. Joined United from Brentford in March 2016.
PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Tom Green
Nationality: English
At Derby County for more than three years, latterly as opposition analyst, before joining in December 2017.
ASSISTANT PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Adam Warburton
Nationality: English
Joined from Wigan in September 2016 as Man Utd revamped their analytics department.
ASSISTANT PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Rob Page
Nationality: English
Appointed in February 2018. Previous experience with Blackburn and Bournemouth.
