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.
FOOTBALL EXECUTIVES
FOOTBALL DIRECTOR
John Murtough
Nationality: English
Joined in November 2013, having previously been Head of Elite Performance for the Premier League. As Head of Football Development at United, he oversaw the Academy and led expansion of scouting department and network. Also led on some special projects, such as development of data science. In March 2021, Murtough was promoted to new role of Football Director, which sees him providing "overall leadership and responsibility for operations and strategy across all football functions."
DEPUTY FOOTBALL DIRECTOR
Andy O'Boyle
Nationality: Northern Irish
Joined in May 2022 to assist Murtough. Previously worked at the Premier League for five years as Head of Elite Performance and before that at Liverpool, as Head of Elite Performance.
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Darren Fletcher
Nationality: Scottish
Made more than 340 appearances for the club as a player. Worked with the U16s for a few months before being appointed first-team coach in January 2021, then promoted to Technical Director in March 2021. Role sees him "contributing to the communication and delivery of our football philosophy across all areas of the club."
DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS
David Harrison
Nationality: English
Joined from Everton in February 2023. Had spent 28 years with the Toffees, starting as Box Office Manager in August 1995. Promoted to Assistant Club Secretary in 1998 and to Head of Football Operations and Club Secretary in August 2000.
STRATEGY EXECUTIVE
Chris Chiang
Nationality: English
Joined United in October 2017 at the age of 27. Previously worked for accountancy giant KPMG for five years and has emerged as an important figure at the club.
COACHING
MANAGER
Erik Ten Hag
Nationality: Dutch
Made more than 300 senior appearances as a centre-back in Holland. Began his managerial career with Go Ahead Eagles, before going on to lead Bayern Munich 2 and then Utrecht, where he was also the Sporting Director. Led Utrecht to the Europa League qualifiers, which resulted in his appointment as Ajax manager in December 2017. Won three Eredivisie titles with the Dutch giants.
ASSISTANT
Mitchell van der Gaag
Nationality: Dutch
As a player, represented PSV Eindhoven, NEC, Sparta Rotterdam, Motherwell, Utrecht, Maritimo and Al-Nassr. Coaching career started in Portugal with Maritimo and then Belenenses, who he led back to the Primeira Liga. After a short spell in Cyprus he returned to the Netherlands in 2015 with FC Eindhoven, Excelsior and NAC, before joining Ajax in 2019, where he was reserve team boss and then Ten Hag's assistant.
ASSISTANT
Steve McClaren
Nationality: English
Was Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at United from 1998 to 2001, during which time they won three Premier League titles and the Treble. Went on to become a manager, securing Middlesbrough's first major honour, the 2004 League Cup, and the Dutch league title with Twente, where Ten Hag was his assistant. However, is perhaps best remembered for his year in charge of England, which resulted in the team's failure to qualify for Euro 2008.
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
Craig Mawson
Nationality: English
Was a youth player for Burnley but never featured in the first team for the Clarets. Returned to Turf Moor as U18s coach in 2010 and progressed to Head of Academy Goalkeeping and then the first team. Appointed by United in December 2019.
SET PIECES & INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT
Eric Ramsay
Nationality: Welsh
Joined United from Chelsea, where he was U23s assistant, in July 2021. Previously worked for Shrewsbury, where he was first-team coach, and is regarded as one of the best young coaches in the country. Youngest British coach to gain the Uefa Pro Licence when he did so in September 2019 at the age of 27.
FIRST TEAM COACH
Benni McCarthy
Nationality: South African
Won 79 caps for South Africa and is his country’s all-time leading scorer, as well as their only player to have won the Champions League (with Jose Mourinho's Porto). Uefa Pro Licence coach speaks four languages and was the 2020/21 South African Premier League Coach of the Year. Joined United in July 2022 and has special responsibility for their strikers.
ASSISTANT/ ANALYST
Kevin Keij
Nationality: Dutch
Started out as a video analyst for Ajax U23s before being promoted to the first team under Ten Hag in June 2021. Prior to this worked with Holland's U15s and U17s. Joined United in August 2022.
PERFORMANCE
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.
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.
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.
REHAB/ FITNESS COACH
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. Title changed from sport scientist to rehab/ fitness coach in 2019.
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.
MASSEUR
Andy Caveney
Nationality: English
Long-standing member of staff and the only masseur with the first team.
FIRST-TEAM HEAD CHEF
Omar Meziane
Nationality: English
Joined United in December 2022. Very experienced in pro sport, having worked with the England senior men's football team (2017 to 2022), England men's cricket team and in rugby union with Wasps and Harlequins. Has also done private work with Chelsea and Fulham footballers.
CONSULTANT NUTRITIONIST
Tom Whitehead
Nationality: English
Also works for UK Taekwondo and has previously worked for Sale Sharks rugby union team.
CONSULTANT NUTRITIONIST
Mark Ellison
Nationality: English
Has worked with United for more than a decade and also works with GB Boxing.
MEDICAL
INTERIM CLUB DOCTOR
Jim Moxon
Nationality: English
Joined in January 2023 after long-standing Head of Medicine Steve McNally stepped down to join PGMOL. Previously worked for Liverpool for six years, mainly in the Academy and then the first team.
HEAD OF PHYSICAL THERAPIES
Michael Callaghan
Nationality: English
Has previously worked as a physio for Wigan, Everton and GB Cycling. Also Professor of Physiotherapy at Manchester Metropolitan University.
HEAD OF REHAB & PHYSIOTHERAPY
Robin Sadler
Nationality: English
Appointed to this new role in January 2021. Previously Head Physio at Derby for four years and, prior to that, first-team physio at Manchester City for 16 years.
PHYSIO
Richard Merron
Nationality: English
Moved from Academy in September 2017 to swap places with Neil Hough, who had been Head Physio since 2014.
PHYSIO
John Davin
Nationality: English
A one-club man, having been at United for more than 20 years.
PHYSIO
David Binningsley
Nationality: English
Joined in July 2018 after 16 years at Sunderland.
DATA & ANALYSIS
DIRECTOR OF DATA SCIENCE
Dominic Jordan
Nationality: English
Became United's first Director of Data Science in October 2021. Joined from Manchester-based N Brown, the clothing and footwear retailer, and is an avid United fan.
HEAD OF PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS
Paul Brand
Nationality: Scottish
Heads up United's analysis department and works closely with Solskjaer and the first team. The Scot worked for Blackburn Rovers before joining United in 2013.
SENIOR PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Tom Green
Nationality: English
At Derby County for more than three years, latterly as opposition analyst, before joining in December 2017.
PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Luke Lazenby
Nationality: English
Promoted from U18s to first team in December 2018. Joined United from Brentford in March 2016.
PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Kaita Hasegawa
Nationality:
Joined from Everton, where he had worked for almost five years, in November 2022.
ASSISTANT PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Rob Page
Nationality: English
Appointed in February 2018. Previous experience with Blackburn and Bournemouth.
ASSISTANT PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Luke Wright
Nationality: English
Moved over from United's Women's team, where he had worked for more than three years, in October 2022.
