Manchester United has made a significant move in its backroom staff by appointing former Manchester City staff member, Sam Erith, as the new performance director. This appointment is part of the club's ongoing reforms following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s takeover.
The Premier League club continues to push ahead with sweeping reforms after falling six points behind their city rivals in the league table after just three matches. The appointment of Erith follows another key hire from their cross-town rivals - Omar Berrada, who was appointed CEO during the summer. Berrada previously served as Chief Football Operations Officer within the City Football Group.
Key appointments at both clubs
While United is making strategic hires, Manchester City has also been active on this front. They recently appointed Jason Wilcox as Manchester United Technical Director. Wilcox had an impressive 11-year tenure at the City Football Academy where he rose to become Academy Director between 2012 and 2023.
Erith's appointment marks the third major hiring by Manchester United from their rival's ranks. The leading sports scientist returns to Premier League action following a stint in America.
A leader in sports science
Sam Erith boasts an impressive career spanning over a decade working with top-tier football clubs and national teams. He served as head of sports science for Manchester City's first team at their academy before moving stateside in 2022.
Before his American adventure, Erith worked within England men’s set-up under Gareth Southgate and had a spell at Tottenham Hotspur FC too. His education credentials include Loughborough University – one of UK’s leading institutions for sports studies. In America, he worked with NY Knicks and Rangers and is widely regarded as a leader in his field - sports science industry. During his time at Etihad Stadium working under managers Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini, and Pep Guardiola, Erith's contributions to the Blues’ medical department were continually praised by Guardiola following their continued success in winning silverware.
Erith has been appointed as Manchester United’s new performance director on an interim basis. His vast experience and expertise in sports science will be a valuable asset for the club as they look to close the gap with their city rivals on the Premier League table. This move is indicative of Manchester United's strategy of bringing in experienced personnel from successful setups to drive their own success story. It remains to be seen how these changes will impact the club's performance on and off the pitch.
