Ruben Amorim during his Man Utd stint
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Manchester United have announced the appointment of Conor King as the first team’s new assistant goalkeeping coach.
The Red Devils sacked Ruben Amorim and his collaborators in January, including Jorge Vital, a 65-year-old goalkeeping coach whose name went viral when the Portuguese head coach cheekily claimed he’d play him ahead of then-outcast Marcus Rashford.
Amorim was replaced by Michael Carrick, who linked up with long-time collaborator Jonathan Woodgate, while bringing in the experienced Steve Holland as his assistant.
However, the club didn’t hire a direct replacement for Vital… until now.
Conor King becomes Man Utd’s new assistant goalkeeping coach
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Senne Lammens of Manchester United arrives at the stadium before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Senne Lammens of Manchester United arrives at the stadium before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
On Thursday, Man Utd released an official statement confirming King’s appointment as an assistant goalkeeping coach for the senior squad.
Interestingly, the Blackburn native is only 27. He was a goalkeeper who rose through the ranks at Burnley, but opted for an early retirement after low-tier experiences at Chester and Clitheroe.
After hanging up his gloves, he launched a coaching career, eventually becoming Burnley’s main goalkeeping coach in 2021.
The Englishman has worked with several managers, including Scott Parker, Sean Dyche and Vincent Kompany.
King reunites with Craig Mawson at Man Utd
Man Utd goalkeeping coach Craig Mawson looking on
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
As The Sun’s correspondent Samuel Luckhurst pointed out, Man Utd relied on two goalkeeping coaches since 2019, but Craig Mawson has been working alone since Vital’s departure in January.
Therefore, King’s arrival should be considered a return to normality, with the young goalkeeper coach supporting Mawson.
#mufc have a new goalkeeping coach in Connor King. United have usually had two GK coaches since 2019 but Craig Mawson was the only one after Jorge Vital left with Ruben Amorim in January.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) September 24, 2026
Speaking of Mawson, he was most likely behind United’s decision to choose King, who developped under his watch at Burnley.
The 47-year-old served as the Clarets’ academy goalkeeping coordinator between 2010 and 2019, before moving to Carrington.
King will thus primarily work with MUFC’s four senior goalkeepers: Senne Lammens, Karl Darlow, Tom Heaton, and Dermot Mee.
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