Who is John Murtough, Manchester United s new director of football?
March 10, 2021
Manchester United’s attempts appointing a director of football has become a running joke among supporters over the past couple of years.
Dating back to Jose Mourinho days, this was cited as an aspiration to set the club up in a new direction.
When Mourinho was fired, it was suggested back in 2018 that United’s priority would be to hire a director of football before a manager, via the MEN.
Nothing happened, but rumours have been ongoing, and usually seen as a way to placate fans in a way of ‘it will get better’ after numerous disappointing transfer windows.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea first-team coach Anthony Barry was expected to leave the club after getting an offer to become League One side Fleetwood Town’s new manager, but according to the latest reports, he has had a change of heart and has turned down the offer.
He will continue as part of new head coach Thomas Tuchel’s staff instead, and is said to be looking forward to learning from the former PSG and Borussia Dortmund tactician. Chelsea’s supposed last-ditch persuasions must have worked!
Barry, who joined Chelsea from Wigan Athletic just last summer, spent 3.5 years with Fleetwood as a player, and those connections undoubtedly helped pose a dilemma, especially given his reported ambitions to move into management. That said, Barry’s just 34, so he has plenty of time in that regard, and the opportunity to work with someone like Tuchel might not come along every day.