Manchester United appoint former Manchester City backroom staff member as performance director | OneFootball

Manchester United have appointed former Manchester City sports scientist Sam Erith as performance director.

Another former Manchester City employee has moved to Old Trafford following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s takeover of Manchester United, with the Premier League club continuing to push ahead with sweeping reforms.

United, who are already six points behind Manchester City in the Premier League table after just three matches, notably appointed Omar Berrada as CEO during the summer, after the 46-year-old left his job within the City Football Group as Chief Football Operations Officer.

Manchester City have also completed the recent appointment of Jason Wilcox as Technical Director, with the former footballer having risen to Academy Director at the City Football Academy during an 11-year spell between 2012 and 2023.

Sam Erith, who also enjoyed an 11-year stay working at Manchester City, is the third major appointment made by the Blues’ rivals Manchester United, with the leading sports scientist returning to the Premier League following a period in the United States.

Erith, who spent over a decade working as head of sports science with the Manchester City first-team at the City Football Academy, has been appointed as Manchester United’s new performance director on an interim basis, according to Mike Keegan.

Prior to moving to the United States in 2022 after over a decade with Manchester City, Erith also previously worked within the England men’s set-up under Gareth Southgate and at Tottenham.

Educated at Loughborough University, Erith had been working with NY Knicks and Rangers in America, and is regarded as a leader in the sports science industry.

Erith worked under Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola while working at the Etihad Stadium, with the Blues’ medical department continually praised by Guardiola in the aftermath of continued silverware success.