Man Utd sign off on three new additions after major Sir Jim Ratcliffe complaints

Manchester United’s data director Michael Sansoni is set for some assistance with three background additions being sought

Manchester United are set to make three new additions to their data department following complaints from Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Director of data Michael Sansoni arrived this past summer and has been challenged to help modernise the club’s data set up with a trio of new additions planned.

The Manchester Evening News are reporting that United will appoint a senior football data scientist, a senior software engineer and a senior football data engineer. A club representative said: “We’re looking for experienced, motivated people to join Michael Sansoni and his team to help set a new standard in football data.

“Think APIs, machine learning, AI, web tools and streaming data pipelines, we’re working on it all to drive performance on the pitch and across the whole club.”

The three new staff members would all conduct their work out of the club’s Carrington training ground following a £50million refurbishment. Ratcliffe has previously been critical of United’s data department with these appointments expected to help.

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During an interview with United We Stand magazine, he said: “Until we are as good as anyone in the world, then it’s not good enough for Manchester United. We must have the best recruitment in the world.

“Data analysis comes alongside recruitment. It doesn’t really exist here. We’re still in the last century on data analysis here. There’s an immense amount of useful data that we can get from data analysis and we’re in the ‘very poor’ bracket with data analysis here.

“These things don’t happen overnight. You can’t just flick a light switch and sort out recruitment. It’s all about people and we need to find the right people.”

Comments from Sansoni emerged during the summer transfer window as he stated that “meaningful progress” was being made with “new methodologies starting to take shape and two fantastic signings, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo”. He added: “I’ve inherited a brilliant team: smart, committed, and hungry to make a difference and together we’re building a world-class data and AI function to power decision-making across football and the wider club.

“The challenge is great, but so is the opportunity. We’re just getting started.”

United have already confirmed several new appointments in the last week with Michael Carrick joining as interim head coach. He will be joined in the dugout on a temporary basis by Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Travis Binnion, Jonny Evans and Craig Mawson.

Carrick’s first game in charge is quite the challenge with Pep Guardiola’s side heading to Old Trafford for the Manchester derby on Saturday lunchtime. No European football and early exits from both domestic competitions means United will only play 40 games this season which could be an advantage on others that have packed fixture schedules.

Following the visit of Manchester City, United face Arsenal, Fulham, Tottenham, West Ham United, Everton and Crystal Palace over the next six weeks.

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