Ex-Man United football director John Murtough lands Birmingham City role after Ratcliffe axe

John Murtough has been appointed director of football at Birmingham City, ending a spell away from English football that followed his departure from Manchester United in 2024. Birmingham confirmed the appointment on Friday, with the club’s board describing Murtough as bringing “almost three decades of experience across elite football.”

Murtough spent 11 years at Old Trafford, working his way up to the role of football director before leaving by mutual agreement shortly after Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a 27.7% stake in the club through his petrochemicals company INEOS. Ratcliffe, who has since increased his shareholding, moved quickly to reshape United’s football operations, and Murtough’s exit was among the earliest high-profile changes. He subsequently joined Atalanta as director of global development before returning to England.

Birmingham had been searching for a director of football since Craig Garner’s departure in June, and Murtough fills a significant gap in the club’s structure as they push for promotion. The Blues are currently fourth in the Championship table, having collected 20 points from their opening 11 games under manager Chris Davies.

“I am incredibly excited to be joining Birmingham City,” Murtough said. “This is a great football club with brilliant fans and enormous potential. There is a clear determination from Knighthead to build something special for the long term, both on and off the pitch.”

He added that his focus would be on working closely with Davies and the wider football team to strengthen recruitment, player development, and the academy pathway.

The club’s board framed the appointment as central to their broader ambitions. “We want Birmingham City competing at the highest level of English football and we are building for sustained success, both on and off the pitch,” the statement read, referencing the club’s planned Sports Quarter development as evidence of that intent.

Murtough’s CV also includes previous roles with Everton, Fulham, Coventry City, and the Premier League itself, giving him a breadth of experience across both elite club football and the wider English game. His time at United coincided with one of the club’s most turbulent periods, spanning managerial reigns from David Moyes through to the post-Ferguson era.