Ten Hag in a meeting with 2 new bosses

A source who has known Brailsford for several years said: “He saw the potential of the club, the question was how to exploit that, take people on the journey and get the most out of them? He’s more of a carrot than a stick.” Brailsford was present at the launch of the P8 Leadership Summit, a conference for top sports managers globally, including the likes of Billy Beane, Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola. “We met, went into the hotel, closed the door and just talked,” Brailsford explains. It’s really valuable.”

Those present in the room included Wenger, then still coach of Arsenal, and Damien Comolli, former recruitment director of Tottenham and Liverpool. There was also Stuart Lancaster, then head coach of the English rugby team; Andy Flower, then head coach of the England cricket team, and Geoff McGrath, CEO of the McLaren racing team.

Other protagonists of the biennial meetings, held in London and New York, are Carlo Ancelotti, Roy Hodgson and Gareth Southgate. Brailsford is particularly close to Hodgson and has given the coach recruitment advice. The duo have watched matches involving Nice’s targets together now that the former England manager has quit.

There is also mutual respect and healthy dialogue between Brailsford and Southgate. Brailsford’s connection with England coaches also extends to his position on the FA advisory group established in July 2016.

Brailsford and Ratcliffe watch a Nice match

Brailsford was placed on a three-man FA panel which included Ashworth, then FA Technical Director, Martin Glenn, then FA Chief Executive, and David Gill, then FA Vice-Chairman, who would direct Guide to training and matches at the national football center St George’s Park, near Burton. The FA board was in the process of appointing Hodgson’s successor, with Sam Allardyce eventually chosen.

Gill, a strong ally of Ferguson when he was CEO of MU, became closer to the club when his successor Ed Woodward left in February 2022 and is expected to be replaced. reappeared at MU. Brailsford has a relationship with Ferguson that dates back to his time as British Cycling Performance Director, which began in 2003 when practice sessions held at Manchester Velodrome.

Brailsford’s relationship with Ferguson dates back to his time as performance director of British Cycling

Brailsford said a year ago: “Recognize Sir Alex is too good when looking at what he has done. He created a great challenge for his opponents with a well-developed team of the same generation. He is not afraid of big names leaving because there is always an alternative. Alex often says: People with a bigger voice will get a bigger position in the locker room. They will have influence. But if that influence is greater than the coach, then it’s not possible, I will say: You go. Hearing him talk about it, I knew he knew exactly what he was doing and was a master at it.”

Sources say Brailsford feels Ferguson has always been “ahead of the curve and very innovative”, and believes it will be important to harness his intelligence now, not to “cut and paste” methods old but to understand the current club context and apply “guiding principles” to achieve new solutions. Those who have worked with Brailsford say that, like Ferguson, he is knowledgeable about details at every level and wants a modern, forward-looking club. Brailsford sat next to Ferguson in MU’s loss to Nottingham Forest.

The difficulties United have endured following Ferguson’s retirement are beyond the responsibility of any one individual, but one aspect where sources say Brailsford can add real value has the departments linked up. each other to a much greater extent. Nice’s performance in Ligue 1 offers a glimpse into Brailsford’s approach to football. The club finished 9th last season and went through turmoil, partly because of a transfer strategy that relied on older players. Brailsford was determined to change Nice’s approach, first establishing the right structure, then appointing personnel he felt were highly competent and talented.

Nice is ranked second in Ligue 1 this season

He wanted a relatively young staff with a clear operating model with modern tactics that they could articulate and coach others on. He appointed Francesco Farioli, 34, as coach and they ranked second in the rankings, just behind PSG. Florent Ghisolfi, 38 years old, was appointed Sports Director. Brailsford sought a Frenchman for that role to be able to connect with local fans.

Farioli coaches within a framework where Ghisolfi leads the recruitment strategy. There was constant dialogue and Farioli was consulted, but he did not have the final say. Sources say Brailsford’s idea is that the club should hire a sporting director and coach who can work together.

Sources at Old Trafford wonder whether INEOS will install a similar system at United as Ten Hag has veto power over contracts and it is thought he will relinquish that element of control.