Former Manchester United Sporting Director Dan Ashworth To Be Named FA’s Head Of Elite Development

Ex-Man Utd sporting director Dan Ashworth is set to be announced as the FA’s new head of elite football development.

Asworth, 54, left his role with Manchester United in December after just five months with the club.

He had ed from Newcastle United, but will now return to the FA, where he spent several years working from 2012-2018.

In his previous FA role, he was in charge of England’s elite men’s and women’s teams, as well as FA education and coaching.

His new role will also include overseeing the development of homegrown coaches.

The lack of English managers at the top of elite football is something Ashworth and the FA will be trying to rectify.

At present, only two permanent Premier League bosses are English, with FA chief executive Mark Bullingham confirming steps, such as hiring Ashworth, are being taken to address this.

The former United sporting director will oversee the ongoing refurbishment of England’s St George’s Park facility.

According to a report from the Telegraph, FA men’s technical director John McDermott will continue in his role.

Hiring And Firing Dan Ashworth Cost Man Utd Millions

The rapid hiring and firing of Dan Ashworth is thought to have cost Manchester United a huge sum of money.

News broke in February, via the club’s s, that the total cost of his dismissal was £4.1 million.

Earlier this year, United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe itted to BBC Sport that hiring Ashworth was “an error”.

Why Did Dan Ashworth Leave Man United?

According to reports, Ashworth’s sudden departure from Manchester United was mostly down to personality clashes.

Ratcliffe chose to act sooner rather than later on something that he felt wasn’t working, though the move surprised many at Old Trafford.

Questions arose over Ashworth’s judgement, particularly the long-drawn-out saga around the sacking of former manager Erik ten Hag.