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Everton poach Manchester United academy chief as technical director

Manchester United academy director Nick Cox is set to leave the club to become technical director at Everton.

Cox joined United in 2016 and has spearheaded their academy set-up for the past six years, earning a reputation as one of the country’s most respected figures in youth development.

Everton are revamping their football department under new chief executive Angus Kinnear and have targeted Cox to lead the technical and football operations.

Cox was headhunted by Everton, who are undergoing a restructure following their takeover by the Friedkin Group last December, and is thought to consider this too good an opportunity to turn down and the right moment to make the step up to first-team level.

Everton are also bringing in James Smith from Manchester City in a senior recruitment capacity following a number of other high-profile hires.

Smith has been City’s director of recruiting and scouting and is currently on gardening leave before his anticipated reunion with Everton manager David Moyes.

He was head of technical scouting during Moyes’s first spell at the Merseyside club and followed the Scot to Manchester United in 2013.

Cox – who has overseen the graduation of players such as Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Toby Collyer and Harry Amass from the academy – is expected to remain at United for a number of weeks until a replacement is found. A succession plan is said to be under way.

Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho (left) and Kobbie Mainoo celebrate after winning the Emirates FA Cup final in 2024

Cox oversaw the the graduation of players such as Alejandro Garnacho (left) and Kobbie Mainoo to United’s first team - PA/John Walton

He has a strong working relationship with United chief executive Omar Berrada and, while the club will be sorry to see him depart, his impending exit is said to be totally amicable.

Cox arrived at Old Trafford from Sheffield United in May 2016, initially working as academy operations manager alongside former United midfielder Nicky Butt, who headed up the academy.

In 2019, Cox was promoted to head of the academy and three years later to academy director and has been instrumental in its turnaround after a period of decline.

A total of 29 academy players have gone on to make their first-team debuts for United since Cox became academy director in October 2022 while the club have generated around £100 million in academy sales in the last three seasons.

What it means for United and Everton

Cox’s impending departure marks the latest development in what has been a major overhaul of senior football staff at United in recent months.

Director of scouting Steve Brown, David Harrison, the director of football operations, director of insights and innovation Richard Hawkins and head of performance analysis Paul Brand are all leaving the club.

At the same time, Sir Dave Brailsford has stepped away from day-to-day operations to return to his broader role as director of sport within the Ineos Sport group, although he will remain a United director.

Beyond that, head of team operations Jackie Kay has left after almost 30 years at the club and Marie Marron, the club’s well regarded football administrator is also set to depart.

Jason Wilcox has been promoted to director of football from technical director while the positions of director of recruitment Christopher Vivell and performance director Sam Erith have both been made permanent. Michael Sansoni has been recruited from the Mercedes Formula 1 team to head up a new look data team.

The moves follow a raft of other changes over the past 12 months, including the exits of Dominic Jordan as director of data science, Mags Mernagh as director of infrastructure and the departure of short-lived sporting director Dan Ashworth.

Cox, like one or two others, is leaving of his own volition but his departure will leave a hole given the strong reputation he has forged in youth circles.

Nonetheless, Cox has viewed the opportunity to join Everton in a first-team capacity under new owners as they move into a new 53,000-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock as too good to turn down after nine years at United.

The Friedkin Group completed their takeover of Everton last December and have been using executive search firm Nolan Partners to help them assemble a new football department under new chief executive, Kinnear, who started last month following his move from Leeds United.

Cox is expected to oversee the running of the majority of Everton’s football departments including medical and the academy, with recruitment handled by others.

James Smith aside, Everton have already hired Nick Hammond from Leeds as head of trading/negotiating.

They have also brought in Chris Howarth, who set up the data analytics company Insight Sport, as head of strategy. Smith – who will work closely with Hammond – effectively replaces Everton’s former head of recruitment Dan Purdy.

Purdy has since joined former Everton director of football Kevin Thelwell at Rangers.

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