Nick Cox leaves Manchester United for Everton's technical director role
- Nick Cox is moving to Everton after serving as Manchester United's Academy Director since 2016.
- During his time at United, he was instrumental in overhauling the youth system, resulting in significant first-team debuts and academy success.
- Cox's departure is seen as pivotal for both Manchester United's transition and Everton's ambitions to revitalize their academy.
In recent weeks, Nick Cox, the Academy Director at Manchester United, has confirmed his move to Everton to take on the role of technical director. This decision comes amid a restructuring effort at Everton, led by the Friedkin Group, which aims to revitalize the club's academy. Since joining Manchester United in 2016, Cox has been crucial in enhancing the youth system. Under his leadership, the academy saw a renewal that led to the club winning the FA Youth Cup in 2022, and he played a significant role in introducing notable players to the first team. Cox has spent considerable time at United, where he oversaw the debut of 27 academy players into the first team. His efforts helped drive the sales of homegrown talent to about £100 million over the last three years, with expectations for this figure to increase due to sell-on clauses linked to various players, such as Anthony Elanga. Having gained respect in youth development circles, Cox was approached with opportunities from clubs and governing bodies across Europe but decided that the Everton position was a unique opportunity. Despite the challenges presented by his departure, United has a succession plan in motion. Cox will stay in his current role for a few more months to facilitate a smooth transition, allowing the club to search for a successor. Meanwhile, the signing of Cox represents a pivotal moment for Everton, who have long struggled with their academy's functionality and have previously faced financial difficulties. The ambition displayed by their new ownership, which focuses on developing homegrown talent, aligns with Cox’s proven track record. As Everton aims to integrate more youngsters into the first team, the club is expected to benefit significantly from Cox's expertise and vision. The hope is that his input will result in a more productive academy, pushing players like Harrison Armstrong and others into competitive positions within the team as multiple first-team players are set to leave or have contracts expiring soon.