John Murtough is a studious character who, for the most part, has liked to operate in the shadows.
Public interviews have not been his style (you have to delve into the archives to find a 2019 chat with business partner Gulf Oil that lasted a total of 144 seconds), while photos of him in Manchester United gear have not surfaced. until a revealing image in 2021, when he became director of football.
At Burnley earlier in the season, he dragged his feet and waited patiently by the tunnel to pick up the bones of United’s 1-0 victory at Turf Moor under manager Erik ten Hag. In truth, there was little fuss surrounding one of Manchester United’s top officials.
‘The Fixer’ was the nickname given to him by some Carrington employees. From when he joined the academy in 2013 to his decision to resign later this week, he had a knack for getting things done.
Take United’s transfer deals during the Covid-19 pandemic.
John Murtough was a private figure at Manchester United who rarely spoke in interviews.
Murtough, who was instrumental in bringing Erik ten Hag (left) to Old Trafford, will leave United as a figurehead of the club’s demise, having joined in 2013.
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Murtough flew to Bergamo in Italy to grease the wheels and bring Atalanta’s Amad Diallo to Old Trafford.
It was a key trip at a difficult time and Murtough, sources explained, would spend his two-week quarantine hiding in his garage, which also served as an office, at home.
He was also instrumental in the appointment of Erik ten Hag, and deservedly received praise for the Dutchman’s first season, which brought him a Carabao Cup, a third-place finish in the Premier League and an appearance in the FA Cup final. The growth of the women’s team and promotion to the academy are two positive aspects attributed to his tenure.
But there are no hiding places at United, no shadows in which to mask deficiencies. Not when Ineos walked into United with a bright flashlight to scrutinize every inch of the football operation.
He leaves as a figurehead of United’s recent demise; a chaotic recruitment strategy that has seen £518m spent during his tenure as director of football, leaving a team on the field lacking both identity and enough talent to win major trophies.
They nicknamed him ‘The Fixer’ but at United there are no hiding places. He has overseen chaotic spending of £518m that has left a team lacking an identity.
Murtough grew up a Manchester United fan and was a member of the club as a teenager.
The 53-year-old, who was born in Longsight, Manchester, and went to school in Cheetham Hill and Gorton, has always been involved with football and entered football administration in 1997 with Everton after completing a master’s degree in psychology. sports in Liverpool John Moores. University.
Spells at Fulham and Coventry City followed, due to his excellent relationship with the manager at the time, Chris Coleman, before returning to Everton.
In 2012 he accepted a job in the Premier League before joining Manchester United at the end of 2013 after being selected and recommended by David Moyes.
What began as a role in academia soon escalated as he became more diligent in easing the workload of those above him. His power and influence grew rapidly.
Murtough began working in United’s academy, but his power and influence grew rapidly and he soon became one of the club’s greatest marksmen.
His reports, and the details they contained, drew internal plaudits and chief executive Ed Woodward did not hesitate to promote Murtough as the club’s first director of football in 2021, despite external surprise, following an extensive three-year search. years in which some of the most important were surveyed. Experienced directors in world football.
It has since been claimed that Inter Miami’s interest provided leverage for Murtough, with Mike Forde, a consultant then used by David Beckham and Murtough’s former studio partner at John Moores, interested in bringing him to MLS.
Murtough took the reins of the transfer business and recruitment strategy and, although agents told him he was a good guy and pleasant to deal with, some key internal figures took issue with him over the years.
In 2019, Nicky Butt was furious with Murtough when Nick Cox replaced him as academy manager.
Murtough and Butt had what sources described as a heated exchange in the Carrington canteen, leading to Cox replacing Butt and Butt taking on a newly created role focused on first-team development. The couple’s relationship was never repaired.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the club’s legendary manager, was no fan of Murtough either.
Legendary former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was not impressed with Murtough.
Ferguson is said to have not been particularly impressed with Murtough during Jude Bellingham’s tour of Carrington, with United on the charm offensive to land the now Real Madrid superstar.
Ferguson was present to greet Bellingham and his parents, but it is claimed that the Scot was not very impressed when Murtough escorted the Bellingham camp away from a meeting to show them Carrington.
People close to Murtough have since suggested that this was more of a misunderstanding and not a slight to Ferguson as it may have initially been interpreted.
Crucially, when Woodward gave him the lead in 2021 to become the club’s inaugural director of football, he took control of transfer policy alongside first Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and now Erik ten Hag.
United were keen to praise Murtough for his role in the £55m takeover of Mason Mount last summer, while he was filmed in Barcelona with director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves last month.
He immediately assumed control of the transfer policy after being appointed director of football in 2021, but has presided over a series of market failures.
The £1.3bn minority takeover of United by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos immediately put Murtough’s feet to the fire.
While sources indicated to Mail Sport that there was an expectation that Murtough could remain in a lesser role, there has long been a growing feeling that United’s recruiting and scouting operations would be gutted and reshuffled as part of an overhaul.
Dan Ashworth is their top target to become the new director of football, while Southampton director of football Jason Wilcox is a top target to be technical director.
United have already made a formal offer to meet Wilcox’s release clause, which covers 12 months of his wages, but the Championship promotion hopefuls are said to be seeking more. United sources are hopeful Wilcox will be ready for the summer transfer window.
Omar Berrada, who like Ashworth is also currently on gardening leave, will take on the role of chief executive and Sir Dave Brailsford will take on a key role as part of a newly built structure.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.3bn takeover immediately put Murtough’s feet in the fire
United have made a formal approach to hire Southampton director of football Jason Wilcox (left), while Dan Ashworth (right) is also being pursued.
Ratcliffe is well aware of how much work is needed to take United from the ailing team they are now, likely to miss out on the Champions League next season, to becoming title contenders once again.
Speaking recently to Geraint Thomas on his Cycling Club podcast, Ratcliffe went into detail about the magnitude of the task ahead and discussed Ineos’ plans with the club.
He said: “It’s not a light switch, it’s a much longer path to go because there are so many aspects of that club and game that you have to get right.”
Ratcliffe, who did not speak directly about Murtough, who has continued to be present at games and in planning meetings for next season, went on to say that incoming chief executive Berrada will become a “big part of the trio” of himself and Brailsford as he begins his new role at Old Trafford, and will play a key role in helping them try to turn their fortunes around.
He said: “There are a group of us who are involved, but the two people who will be most focused on this will be Dave and I in terms of how to figure it all out.”
Everything that has emerged since Ratcliffe’s arrival has left Murtough the odd man out and as he dined as usual at Carrington on Tuesday afternoon, he did so knowing that after a decade at United, it was now time for a new challenge.