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Former Sunderland kit man Stephen Aziz lands new role as Senior Kit Manager at Manchester United
Stephen Aziz, who spent more than 13 years at Sunderland, confirmed the move on LinkedIn, describing the opportunity as the pinnacle of his career after almost two decades working inside professional football. Aziz, who has also held senior kit roles at Middlesbrough and Manchester City, as well as a recent spell with Thermopatch International, revealed the news in a detailed post outlining his excitement about joining one of the biggest clubs in world football.
“Thrilled to share that I have joined Manchester United as Senior Kit Manager,” he wrote. “It is a huge honour and privilege for myself and my family to take on this role–working closely with the men’s first team predominantly, while overseeing all teams from a kit operations point of view.”
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Aziz left Sunderland highly regarded after more than a decade of service across multiple managers, promotions, relegations and dressing-room cycles. His time on Wearside saw him work with dozens of senior professionals across Premier League, Championship and League One campaigns.
In his LinkedIn announcement, Aziz reflected on the journey that has taken him to Old Trafford. “After 18 years working in professional football kit departments, this truly feels like reaching the pinnacle of an elite football environment,” he said.
He added that the integration into United has already been seamless: “Over the past two weeks since starting, I’ve been made to feel incredibly welcome and already part of this great club. The culture, standards, and people here are second to none.”
Aziz also touched on the personal side of the move, confirming that his family will relocate to the North West as he begins the next chapter of his career. “On a personal note, my wife Jen and our two boys, Arlo and Arden, are excited for our relocation to the North West. This is our biggest life challenge yet, but one we are ready to give everything to.”
Before taking the United role, Aziz spent a year working at Avery Dennison – a key supplier to Premier League clubs – and expressed gratitude toward former colleagues. “I also want to say a big thank you to everyone at Avery Dennison, where I’ve spent the last 12 months. It was a short period, but I learned a lot in that time and worked with some brilliant people.”
Aziz is now preparing for life back in the Premier League environment, with Sunderland set to meet Manchester United later this season. “Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces around the Premier League again. Ready for the hard work ahead and proud to be part of this club.”
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