Sir Dave Brailsford to step back from Manchester United, Jason Wilcox named director of football

New York Times

2 days ago

Sir Dave Brailsford is relinquishing his day-to-day role at Manchester United and returning to act as director of sport for INEOS, in a major recalibration of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Old Trafford executive.
The move coincides with Jason Wilcox being named United's director of football, a position of increased seniority from the technical director title he initially arrived with in April 2024.
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Brailsford, 61, has been a significant figure at United since Ratcliffe's stake was confirmed on Christmas Eve 2023, watching Aston Villa's Boxing Day visit to Old Trafford from the directors' box and continuing to attend games regularly.
He was appointed to United's football club board upon completion of the deal, alongside former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and ex-chief executive David Gill.
He had been a consistent presence throughout the due diligence stage of the investment process and was prominent at Carrington once Ratcliffe had the keys to the club, basing himself in Manchester.
Brailsford was across the training ground refurbishment, involved in the decisions on Erik ten Hag, and had input on key appointments including Omar Berrada as chief executive and Ruben Amorim as head coach, as well as performance staff.
Brailsford led United's 'Mission 21' drive targeting a 21st league title and 'Mission 1' to win first Women's Super League, part of 'Project 150' programme to mark 150th anniversary in 2028.
He became less visible in recent weeks, although that can partly be attributed to him becoming a father last year and spending more time in Monaco. Brailsford was seen at the Europa League final in Bilbao, however.
Now, with a new executive team led by Berrada in place, and Wilcox assuming greater authority for United's sporting department by being promoted to director of football, Brailsford is stepping back to give them space. He retains his place on the board and will still be on hand to advise on strategic performance matters. Assembling a revamped structure at United was his remit on joining, and this has now happened.
Brailsford is expected to increase his support to INEOS Grenadiers, the cycling team he was team principal of until January 2024, shortly after Ratcliffe agreed to purchase a minority stake in United, as they aim to return to Tour de France winning level, with the arrival of a new partner quest.
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Ratcliffe wants Brailsford to help guide Geraint Thomas, who is set to be appointed to a senior management position at INEOS Grenadiers once he retires as a rider at the end of this season.
Brailsford can also revert back to Nice, where he was once influential, given United's failure to qualify for Europe means the French club is free from the blind trust it was placed by UEFA to comply with ownership rules.
Brailsford is one of several INEOS figures to have joined United, including chief financial officer Roger Bell, directors John Reece and Rob Nevin, and project managers Gary Hemingway and Josh Thompson.
Brailsford has been a big part of United under Ratcliffe, pictured attending Carrington alongside the British billionaire in January 2024 to meet players and staff, then being at the forefront of the undulations over Ten Hag's position at the end of that campaign.
Brailsford attended pre-season in Los Angeles last summer, and was seen chatting pitchside to Ten Hag, Wilcox, and then-sporting director Dan Ashworth.
Much has changed at United in those 11 months since, with Ten Hag relieved of his duties in October following an executive committee meeting where Brailsford left in the same car as Ratcliffe. Ashworth went in December, and now Brailsford is reducing his day-to-day involvement.
Doing so once a new football structure had been assembled was part of the plan, with Brailsford's background coming in elite sporting performance, predominantly cycling, rather than football, which he confessed he was not an expert in.
United's results this season have been the worst in Premier League history, with Amorim admitting to a 'disaster' campaign that was even denied salvation by Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Berrada and Wilcox are now undoubtedly the key people in charge of the football operations at the club.
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