Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Jason Wilcox as their new technical director, marking the latest move in Sir Jim Ratcliffe's overhaul.
Wilcox, 53, leaves his role as director of football at Championship side Southampton and will start his new position at Old Trafford with immediate effect after the two clubs reached an agreement over compensation. United said in a statement: "He will work with all technical areas of the football department to achieve the highest standards of performance."
Wilcox's arrival has been confirmed just 10 days after United announced the departure of football director John Murtough, who'd served the club for 11 years. Previous technical director Darren Fletcher will still work in Red Devils' football leadership team in a new role which will cover their men's first-team and academy.
As a player, Wilcox won the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers in 1995. The Bolton-born ex-winger also coached in Manchester City's youth setup before becoming academy director, overseeing the development of players such as Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb.
Also in the City hierarchy during Wilcox's time there was Omar Berrarda, who United have already confirmed will become their CEO this summer. Berrada's appointment remains the biggest since co-owner Ratcliffe began his reshuffle after purchasing a 27.7 stake in the club.
Wilcox will report to United's sporting director, who hasn't yet been appointed. However, Ratcliffe has made Newcastle chief Dan Ashworth his No.1 target.
Ashworth is keen on the move and after informing Newcastle of his desire to join United, the club placed him on gardening leave until the end of his contract in January 2026. Ratcliffe hopes to broker a deal, though, recently saying: " I understand why [Newcastle] would be disappointed, but then you can't criticise Dan because it's a transient industry.
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"You can understand why Dan would be interested, because it's the ultimate challenge. We'll have to see how it unfolds. What I do think is completely absurd, is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one-and-a-half years."
The INEOS chairman then explained how easy it was securing Berrada's signature compared to Ashworth's. "We had a very grown up conversation with City about Omar," Ratcliffe added.
"When things got done we sorted it out very amicably. They could see why he wanted to take that challenge. You look at Pep, and when he’s done with one of his footballers he doesn’t want them to sit in the garden for one and a half years. He doesn’t do that. That’s not the way the UK works or the law works."
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