Latest news with #StephenTorpey
Metro
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Metro
Man Utd deliver another Brentford blow by signing up key backroom figure
Brentford are set to suffer another loss this summer as academy director Stephen Torpey is due to leave to join Manchester United. The Red Devils are bringing in the 43-year-old to head up their own academy and replace Nick Cox, who is departing to join Everton as technical director, report The Athletic. That move to Merseyside was agreed in June but Cox has remained in place in Manchester until a replacement could be found. Torpey has been in his role at Brentford since January 2024, having spent time at United's rivals beforehand. After a playing career spent mainly in non-league football, Torpey began his coaching life in Liverpool's academy before moving to Manchester City in 2014. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. He made his way up the ranks at the Etihad to become head of the academy before leaving for Brentford last year. It is another blow for the Bees after a tumultuous summer of loss both on and off the field for the club. Manager Thomas Frank was tempted away by Tottenham, while Manchester United signed star striker Bryan Mbeumo. Captain Christian Norgaard has moved to Arsenal, while goalkeeper Mark Flekken left for Bayer Leverkusen. There could yet be another high profile departure, with Newcastle keen on Yoane Wissa and the forward seemingly set on securing the switch to St James' Park. Frank also took members of his backroom staff with him to Spurs, with Justin Cochrane, Chris Haslam and Joe Newton all leaving Brentford. More Trending Keith Andrews has been installed as the new manager, his first role in a top job, and got off to a tough start with a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. On that loss at the City Ground, Andrews said: 'It was always going to be difficult but we made it harder for ourselves. We knew their strengths and we knew the problems they would cause. Set-pieces were always going to be a threat. 'Get back to basics. Basics in the game is a dirty word at times, but you have to have an edge and do the ugly side of the game and compete as a team. I didn't think we did that. 'I saw it a lot in the first half and it's something we need to address. The second half was a lot better on a lot of fronts.' MORE: Man Utd warned Benjamin Sesko is 'similar' to Liverpool's 'biggest ever transfer mistake' MORE: Arsenal handed fresh Rodrygo boost as Real Madrid slash asking price MORE: Alejandro Garnacho rejects offer to leave Manchester United after Chelsea talks
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd search comes to an end with Premier League raid 'close to completion'
Manchester United are closing in on the appointment of a new academy director, with Stephen Torpey set to make the move to Old Trafford from Premier League rivals Brentford Manchester United are set to appoint a new academy chief after Nick Cox left to become technical director at Everton. Cox spent nine years as United's director of academy and his departure was confirmed in June. At the time, United hailed Cox for creating a "unique culture of excellence" within the academy setup and for leaving it in "excellent shape to continue attracting and developing world-class talent, and well-rounded young people". And according to a new report from the Manchester Evening News, United are now closing in on his replacement. The report states that Brentford's academy director Stephen Torpey is on the verge of joining the club. Torpey joined Brentford in January 2024, having previously spent time as Manchester City's head of academy coaching and a lead foundation coach at Liverpool. During his time at City, Torpey was credited with helping develop the likes of Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis and James McAtee. He also worked closely with Jason Wilcox, who was City's academy director and is now United's director of football. In an interview with the Times earlier this year, Torpey explained his philosophy. "We invite parents in to speak with our under-18s," he said. "There's a young player who's on the brink of becoming a professional, but he's still a minor. "We ask them and say, 'How do you want this to go? Do you want Mum and Dad to be present as you're about to enter into the B team, or would you like to start to take this upon yourself? Because at some point you might have to have a conversation with Thomas Frank and I don't think you could invite Mum and Dad. You're at work.' "It's about being realistic, but also picking the right moment for the right individual as well and not making it, 'You are now 16 — no more parents', because there might be someone who's quite timid. There also might be someone who's very mature and ready for that. "When you see players walk out for the first-team and you've worked with them from the very earliest ages, they feel like one of your own. There's no better feeling for a fan than to watch one of your own. "I think that's the challenge here: to try and create that same special feeling for our fans when they see one of our local players run out at the Gtech and play in the Premier League and represent the club that they love."
New York Times
19 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Manchester United set to appoint Brentford's Stephen Torpey to lead academy
Manchester United are set to appoint Brentford's Stephen Torpey to lead their academy. Torpey has been Brentford's academy director since January 2024, having previously served as head of academy coaching at United's rivals Manchester City. The 43-year-old is set to become the first major hire under director of football Jason Wilcox and replace outgoing director of academy Nick Cox in the role. Cox has overseen United's youth system for six years and is due to join Everton as technical director after agreeing the move in June. While Cox has been in the role, his remit extended to recruitment, retention, coaching, medical, logistics and education in a strategic leadership role requiring a broad knowledge across a variety of disciplines. Under Torpey, Brentford were academy awarded Category Two status as the under-9s to under-16s age groups were reintroduced, following the relaunch of the club's academy in 2022 after spending six years following a B team model. Torpey began his youth coaching career with Liverpool in 2008, working as a lead foundation coach across multiple age groups before joining City in 2014. Advertisement He was brought in to implement a Barcelona-style coaching syllabus which eventually helped the club's youth teams to win trophies while playing an identifiable style of football, with a focus on individual concepts such as ball mastery, and team-based ideas like possession-based, attacking football. Among those to come through the youth system and be successfully integrated into senior football under Torpey are Rico Lewis, Cole Palmer and James McAtee, with the latter two leaving the club to join Chelsea and Nottingham Forest respectively. As well as helping lead the academy at City, Torpey was also head of coaching and played a role in player recruitment. This is the latest development in what has been a summer of change for Brentford, having seen head coach Thomas Frank join Tottenham Hotspur and being replaced by former set piece coach Keith Andrews. Backroom staff members Justin Cochrane, Chris Haslam and Joe Newton all also left the club to join Frank at Spurs. () Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brentford's Torpey set for Man Utd academy role
Brentford are set for another high profile departure with academy director Stephen Torpey lined up as Manchester United's new head of academy. Current academy chief Nick Cox is leaving United after agreeing to become Everton's technical director. Torpey is well known to United technical director Jason Wilcox as the pair worked together at Manchester City. Wilcox is understood to have driven the recruitment process. Cox is currently continuing in his role at Old Trafford and it is not known precisely when Torpey will be able to take the job. It will be another exit in a summer of departures at Brentford. United signed striker Bryan Mbeumo from the Bees for £65m last month, manager Thomas Frank left for Tottenham and skipper Christian Norgaard moved to Arsenal in a £15m deal. Forward Yoane Wissa is also in dispute with the club as he looks to complete a move to Newcastle.
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Brentford's Torpey set for Man Utd academy role
Brentford are set for another high profile departure with academy director Stephen Torpey lined up as Manchester United's new head of academy chief Nick Cox is leaving United after agreeing to become Everton's technical is well known to United technical director Jason Wilcox as the pair worked together at Manchester is understood to have driven the recruitment is currently continuing in his role at Old Trafford and it is not known precisely when Torpey will be able to take the will be another exit in a summer of departures at signed striker Bryan Mbeumo from the Bees for £65m last month, manager Thomas Frank left for Tottenham and skipper Christian Norgaard moved to Arsenal in a £15m deal. Forward Yoane Wissa is also in dispute with the club as he looks to complete a move to Newcastle.
