Everton to take Nick Cox from Manchester United as technical director

Everton is set to appoint Nick Cox, the director of the academy at Manchester United, as their new technical director. This appointment comes as part of a broader restructuring of the club's football operations initiated by the Friedkin Group. Following the departure of Kevin Thelwell, the former director of football, Everton's chief executive, Angus Kinnear, decided to eliminate the director of football role in favor of a technical director position. This shift is intended to consolidate responsibilities and streamline the decision-making process within the club. An external recruitment firm was engaged to identify suitable candidates, and Nick Cox emerged as the leading choice for the role.

Cox has been with Manchester United since 2016 and has played a significant role in the development of young talent, notably overseeing the academy’s success in winning the FA Youth Cup in 2022. He has been instrumental in the growth of players like Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho. Although he is expected to transition to his new role at Everton, Cox will remain at Manchester United for the next few months to assist with the handover of duties. In addition to Cox's appointment, Everton has also made other key hires, including Nick Hammond from Leeds as head of trading, Chris Howarth as head of strategy, and James Smith, who is set to return from Manchester City in a recruitment capacity. These changes reflect Everton's commitment to strengthening their organizational structure and improving their performance on the field.