Manchester United hire ex-Liverpool fitness coach Andy O’Boyle as their new deputy football director with wide-ranging brief to help John Murtough with recruitment, scouting and sports science
- Manchester United have appointed a new deputy football director
- Andy O’Boyle returns to the club 16 years after he coached in their academy
- He worked as a fitness and performance coach under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool
- He has spent last five years as head of elite performance at the Premier League
- O’Boyle will help football director John Murtough focus on player recruitment
Manchester United have continued their overhaul of the club by appointing Andy O’Boyle as deputy football director.
O’Boyle moves from his role as head of elite performance at the Premier League and returns to United 16 years after he first worked at the club’s academy with players like Marcus Rashford.
He has also worked as one of Jurgen Klopp’s fitness coaches at Liverpool.
The Northern Irishman, who also played at United’s centre of excellence as a boy before focusing on coaching and sports science, will work with football director John Murtough as part of the new-set-up at Old Trafford.
Manchester United have appointed Andy O’Boyle, who formerly worked as one of Jurgen Klopp’s fitness coaches at Liverpool, as their new deputy football director
He will assist football director John Murtough as new manager Erik ten Hag starts his rebuild
As well as the appointment of new manager Erik ten Hag and coaches Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren, key scouts Jim Lawlor and Marcel Bout have left United and chief transfer negotiator Matt Judge is leaving although he continues to be involved planning for this summer.
‘We are delighted to welcome Andy back to Manchester United to take up this important role in the club’s leadership,’ said Murtough.
‘Andy has experience across all technical areas of football, from fitness and sports science to scouting and recruitment.
‘This will make him a valuable addition to my team at Carrington as we continue to strengthen leadership and strategic planning across all our football activities.’
O’Boyle is due to complete his UEFA pro licence this summer, and is also working towards a doctorate, having already achieved a Masters in sports science.
He said: ‘I am thrilled to be rejoining Manchester United at such an exciting time for the club, as the first team prepares for a fresh start under Erik ten Hag, and the academy and women’s teams go from strength to strength.
Murtough is set for a busy summer with new boss Ten Hag identifying his transfer targets
‘Whilst it has been a privilege to serve the Premier League for the past five years, I can’t wait to get started at United and play my part in creating the right environment for football success.’
His appointment will lessen the burden on Murtough by taking away much of the day-to-day bureaucracy, allowing him to concentrate on first-team recruitment as new manager Erik ten Hag gets to work.
It has been suggested his arrival will free up two-thirds of Murtough’s time each week.
His wide-ranging brief at the Premier League included responsibility for advising clubs on talent identification and recruitment, performance analysis, sports science and medicine, psychology and loan management.
He also played a role as the Premier League devised its strategy for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
O’Boyle has also worked previously for England under 21s, Coventry City and Wrexham.
Source: Daily Mail Online