TA: Manchester United is looking for senior recruitment directors, which will oversee senior scouts

TA reported that Manchester United is looking for a senior recruiting director who will oversee the work of senior scouts as part of their restructuring of the department.

Manchester United will also set up regional emerging talent directors in major global talent pools, and these appointments are part of the ongoing attempts to reorganize and modernize the scout network. Manchester United plans to retain important scouting and analytical capabilities, especially in emerging talent, and strengthen data support. Previously, Michael Sansoni joined Manchester United from Mercedes F1 team as data director. Sports intelligence consulting firm Sportsology is assisting Manchester United in recruiting senior positions, with clients including NFL teams San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Hawks and Los Angeles Rams, and MLS teams International Miami International and Cincinnati FC.

The new senior recruitment director will report to Christopher Vivier, who was officially appointed as Manchester United's recruitment director in February after he temporarily held the position after signing a short-term contract last summer.

Ville previously served as technical director at Chelsea and as an executive at RB Leipzig. At 38, he is responsible for Manchester United's global recruitment operations, scouting structure and emerging talent, and reports to Jason Wilcox. Wilcox was previously promoted from technical director to football director, replacing Dan Ashworth's position.

TheAthletic reported in February that the recruitment department was one of the areas of layoffs, and Manchester United declined to comment at the time because they were in formal legal layoffs. This is part of a broader reform of the club’s football structure, which Manchester United previously said aims to create a more streamlined, flexible and efficient system. In April, TheAthletic reported that as part of the Old Trafford recruitment change, scout director Steve Brown will leave the club and the number of scouts will be significantly reduced, the second layoff in Sir Ratcliffe's term.

Ratcliff made it clear that he believes that Manchester United hired too many scouts. A few years ago, Manchester United hired 140 scouts, 50 full-time and 90 part-time, and the current number of staff has decreased. As many as 200 people are expected to lose their jobs, following a cut of 250 last summer.

GreesGames