Everton have created a new post of technical director after luring academy director Nick Cox from Manchester United
Nick Cox has been made Everton's technical director having been academy director at Manchester United
Nick Cox has been made Everton's technical director having been academy director at Manchester United
With Everton transitioning to a wider sporting leadership team after abandoning the director of football first created by Farhad Moshiri nine years ago, luring Nick Cox from Manchester United is considered one of the coups of the summer so far.
The Blues confirmed four appointments on June 20 as they look to favour of a football leadership team made up of specialists in technical development, football operations, talent ID, data analytics and player trading.
Following a comprehensive recruitment process, Everton appointed Cox to the newly created post of technical director, James Smith as director of scouting and recruitment, Chris Howarth to direct the club’s football strategy & analytics operations and Nick Hammond to lead player trading activity.
Cox was academy director at Manchester United, a role he was appointed to in 2019, three years after joining them as head of academy operations.
In his role at Everton he will lead on ensuring all aspects of Finch Farm are at the elite level, covering the medical, operations, facilities and player care departments, as well as the academy functions.
Cox is widely credited with implementing the enhancements in processes and culture that have vastly improved United’s academy following an extended period of decline before his arrival.
He also successfully overhauled every aspect of the academy’s provision including operations, recruitment, analysis, performance and education.
There have been 38 academy debuts in the first team on Cox’s watch, including 29 since his promotion to director of academy/becoming a member of Manchester United’s football leadership group.
From 2019-2024, academy graduates played 25% of United’s first team minutes, which was the second highest in the big five European leagues behind only Bayern Munich. Significant recruitment successes on under Cox include Alejandro Garnacho, Alvaro Fernandez, Chido Obi, Ayden Heaven, Harry Amass, Toby Collyer plus the retention of Kobbie Mainoo, while sales have generated around £100million in the last three seasons.
Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness is certainly impressed with what he’s heard so far about the Blues’ new man.
The 67-year-old, who was CEO at Goodison Park between 2004-09 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs, told Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast: “I’ve been doing a fair bit of checking about Mr Cox and certainly he has a good reputation among the youth development area.
“He’s seen as a bit of a purist, if you like, about his ideals and the way he wants to go. Now, that’s okay, but in the real world of football, as we know, it’ll be about managing egos and personalities, and this is probably a promotion for him.
“So, while I would say he’s got a good chance, it’s still to be seen how he develops in terms of working with people and creating the environment, and really leading people forward. But certainly no bad knocks against him, just he’s got to prove himself at this level now.”