Director of football role ‘back on the agenda’ at Man Utd

Manchester United have reopened their search for a director of football with Ed Woodward putting the appointment of the position ‘back on the agenda’ at Old Trafford.

United have been considering the appointment of an inaugural director of football for some time but their search for the right candidate failed to find a solution over the past two years, with Woodward having seemingly shelved the idea of restructuring the club’s hierarchy.

However, according to the Telegraph, the proposal is now ‘back on the agenda’, the executive vice-chairman having ‘returned to the idea’ of appointing someone to ‘sit alongside the existing structure at Old Trafford’.

The role would incorporate a ‘wide-range’ of responsibilities including holding an influential role in recruitment, the club’s training ground and the development of women’s football at the club.

Amongst the names being considered are Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Berta and Juventus chief Fabio Paratici, whilst Antero Henrique – who left his position with Paris Saint-Germain last year – is also said to be on the club’s radar.

The newly-appointed director of football will be tasked with helping Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his team of coaches, scouts and data analysts, with a general consensus that the Norwegian’s recruitment has been a marked improvement on the club’s previously poor record in the transfer market in recent years.

A final shortlist of candidates is yet to be finalised but the search is now back amongst United’s priorities, Woodward keen to shift his personal focus to dealing with the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic and introduce a director of football to aid sporting operations.

‘This is a team that is going places’ – Solskjaer discusses Man Utd’s ‘journey’