A closer look at the career of Nick Cox, who has joined Everton as the club's first ever technical director
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
Everton have brought in Manchester United director of academy Nick Cox. He will be the Toffees first ever technical director in what is part of a wider restructuring at the club, but who actually is he and what can he bring to the club?
The 47-year-old studied at Liverpool John Moores University between 1996 and 1999; studying coaching science and science of football and came out of university with a Bachelor of Science and a diploma (HE).
In 2000, Cox was at Oakland college in Hertfordshire, as a sports science lecturer for two years. He then progressed onto his first career in football in 2001, as Watford’s Development Centre Co-ordinator and continued to progress through the ranks at the Hornets, moving to become their Football Development Office and then Head of Education.
Then a huge step arrived in Cox’s career when he moved to the Academy Manager role at Watford in 2007 and additionally went onto become the Head of Academy. He helped 52 players progress either onto the first team or secure moves elsewhere during his time in Hertfordshire. One of those being current Manchester United and England player Jadon Sancho before he made the switch to Manchester City at 14.
At Watford, Cox, was a huge success for the five years he was there for and other clubs across the country took notice of this.
In December of 2012 Sheffield United hired Cox as their Academy Manager. North Yorkshire was his home for four years and saw him work with players who have gone on and had great careers.
One of them being a former Everton player who departed the club this week, Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Current Bournemouth and Wales international David Brooks was also at the Blades during Cox’s spell in South Yorkshire, along with former Arsenal goalkeeper and current Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who was part of the academy setup and worked under Cox as well.
Those three players combined were sold for £37 million and gave Sheffield United a huge financial boost not just in the Championship but also in the Premier League.
In 2014, whilst still at Sheffield United, Cox was studying a masters in sporting directorship and sports leadership at Manchester Metropolitan University.
He then made the biggest leap in his career yet, when he moved over the peaks to Manchester United in May of 2016, to become a part of their Academy setup at the lower level.
Cox helped the development programme at United and was responsible for overseeing starters at the club from Under-9s upwards, in his role as Academy Operations Manager.
Impressing in his position, Cox was made Head of Academy in 2019, replacing former Manchester United player Nicky Butt. Then from October of 2022 to June 2025, Cox has been operating as United’s Director of Academy and also this past year completed his UEFA pro license with the FA.
Not only was it a huge step in Cox’s career because of the size and magnitude of Manchester United but also the history behind their youth team.
They are regarded as having one of the best academies not just in England but also the world, with a youth team player featuring in every single matchday squad since October 1937.
The first huge achievement of Cox’s career to date was in the 2022 FA Youth Cup, when Manchester United’s under-18s side beat Nottingham Forest under-18s 3-1 at Old Trafford. At the time it was a big achievement for United, as it was the first FA Youth Cup they had won since 2011. Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba were all in that squad in 14 years ago and have progressed onto achieving great accomplishments in their respected careers.
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In the 2022 FA Youth Cup winning team, the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo really came to the fore and impressed former United managers Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag.
Both players have gone on to achieve great things in their career, with the duo now featuring in their international teams, along with playing regularly for United’s first team and scoring crucial goals, like in the 2024 FA Cup final against rivals Manchester City.
Newly appointed Director of Football at Manchester United, Jason Wilcox said: “Identifying and developing the best youth talent remains one of this club’s top priorities, and we are grateful for the work Nick has done to provide such a strong foundation for us to continue to build on. We wish him well for the next stage of his career.”
However, the players who did not feature in United’s first team, during Cox’s time at the club, for various reasons have still gone on to do well for themselves and have benefitted United with their PSR calculations, as academy players go down as pure profit.
Alvaro Carreras joined Benfica last year and has succeeded during his time in Portugal and it has been reported that Spanish giants Real Madrid are interested in the left back.
Antony Elanga was sold to Nottingham Forest in 2023 and after a stellar season last year with the East Midlands side, it looks like Newcastle United are interested in the 23-year-old and are reportedly going to have to pay £45million for the Swede.
Cox’s philosophy is that every player has a journey and sometimes the progression of players straight into the first team does not depict how good they actually are. A perfect example of this at United was Scott McTominay, who was not the most talented player at the club but through the right work ethic and attitude towards playing, the Scotsman ended up making his debut in May of 2017 at 20 years old.
Rather than managing the players as a collective, Cox is more focused on how he can enhance individual’s skills and talents that will not just help them progress as a football player, but as a person and the way they live their life.
Now after five years at the Red Devils he will now move to the blue half of Merseyside, as Everton’s new Technical Director and will hope to continue his success with the Toffees.