Manchester United have appointed Sam Erith as performance director until the end of the season - as the drive to transform the club continues.
Erith, who joins on an interim basis, is regarded as an industry leader and heads to Old Trafford following spells with England, Manchester City, Tottenham and most recently New York-based Madison Square Garden Sports.
Mail Sport understands sporting director Dan Ashworth targeted Erith, who will start his new role on an interim basis on Monday. The new man is likely to be tasked with ensuring manager Erik ten Hag and his players are provided with an elite environment in which to challenge.
Erith has experience in performance, health and sports science and will work with United’s new football leadership team, brought in following Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’s acquisition of a quarter stake in the club.
Insiders believe Erith’s role will be crucial to what they are hoping will be a United turnaround, despite a sluggish start to the season.
Erith, who joins on an interim basis, is regarded as an industry leader and heads to Old Trafford following spells with England, Manchester City, Tottenham and Madison Square Garden Sports
The move is part of a wide-ranging attempt by the new regime at Old Trafford to ensure they are at the cutting edge of football and across all advances in technology. Erith was senior vice president for player performance and science leader for MSG, who own the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, and will report to Ashworth.
Educated at Loughborough University, Erith performed a number of roles with the FA and the England men’s first team after starting as a sports scientist. From 2016 to 2017 he was a consultant performance coach working with Gareth Southgate.
Erith was also head of sports science for six years at Spurs and spent 11 years at City in a similar role before leaving in November 2022 and heading to the US.
United have transformed their off-field operations since INEOS’s arrival in January. Ashworth arrived following protracted negotiations with Newcastle while Jason Wilcox came in as technical director from Southampton.
In a summer of change, Omar Berrada made the short trip from City to become the club’s new chief executive.