The Athletic: Jason Wilcox wanted League One manager at Man Utd
Manchester United Director of Football Jason Wilcox hoped to reunite with his old ally Russell Martin at Carrington.
Wilcox has been at MUFC since April 2024, initially taking the role of technical director before being promoted to DoF following the sudden departure of sporting director Dan Ashworth in December that year.
Therefore, the 55-year-old has been in charge of the club’s transfer market and also holds sway in the head-coach selection process.
Jason Wilcox tried to convince Man Utd to appoint Russell Martin in 2024
In a long piece published by The Athletic on Tuesday morning, journalists Jacob Tanswell, Laurie Whitwell and Mario Cortegana delved into Wilcox’s role at Man Utd and his relationship with the club’s players, successive managers, and owners.
Interestingly, the article revealed how the former Man City director vouched for Russell Martin following Erik ten Hag’s sacking in October.
In the summer of 2023, the 40-year-old was handpicked by Wilcox to take charge at Southampton when the latter was serving as the club’s DoF. The young tactician managed to guide the club back to the Premier League at the end of the season.
| Martin’s Coaching Stats | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MK Dons | 130 | 48 | 32 | 50 | 36.9% |
| Swansea City | 49 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 36.7% |
| Southampton | 71 | 33 | 14 | 24 | 46.5% |
| Rangers | 17 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 29.4% |
| Leicester City | 17 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 41.2% |
| Total | 284 | 111 | 70 | 103 | 39.1% |
The Saints eventually sacked Martin in December 2024 after a poor run of form. He then had a brief spell at Rangers and is currently Leicester City’s head coach.
Wilcox was obviously unsuccessful in his attempt to convince the Man Utd hierarchy to appoint Russell. Instead, they opted for Ruben Amorim, despite the director’s reservations over the Portuguese’s three-man backline.
Man Utd revisiting Dan Ashworth’s idea by considering Eddie Howe
The same report from The Athletic also revealed an interesting detail regarding the 2024 mid-season managerial change, claiming that Ashworth identified Eddie Howe as a suitable option for the role.
Ashworth’s opinion was also overlooked, which was probably one of the factors behind his exit a month later.
Fast forward to November 2026, Man Utd find themselves in an uncannily similar situation, with Michael Carrick’s job now hanging by a thread amid an abysmal run. The 45-year-old could be shown the door during the upcoming international break, especially if he fails to turn things around in the next two matches against Roma and Aston Villa.
But this time, Howe has emerged as the leading candidate for the MUFC hot seat. Moreover, the 48-year-old is currently available, having left Newcastle United in July.
The other main candidates for the role are Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte. For his part, Unai Emery is becoming an increasingly popular candidate, but he has a contract with Villa valid until June 2029.
