Who Is Jason Wilcox? Man Utd's Football Director and the Carrick Call
Jason Wilcox is Manchester United's director of football, and as of Tuesday evening he's one of the two executives who will shape what happens to Michael Carrick. Sky Sports reported on Monday that the decision will ultimately come down to Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, who will make a recommendation to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Carrick is still head coach, and ESPN reported on Tuesday that he's expected to be in the dug-out at Chelsea on Saturday. Wilcox's route to Old Trafford Wilcox was a winger who won the Premier League title with Blackburn in 1995, won three England caps and retired in 2006.
He then worked his way up at Manchester City from coach to academy director over 11 years, and Sky Sports reported when United appointed him in April 2024 that he had joined Southampton as director of football the previous summer. He left Southampton within a year when United agreed a compensation fee, and Southampton said they "reluctantly" allowed the move.
His new boss at United knew him well: Berrada had worked with him at City. Jason Wilcox: key facts Role now Director of football, Manchester United Playing career Blackburn title winner 1995, three England caps, retired 2006 Man City Coach to academy director, 11 years Summer 2023 Joins Southampton as director of football April 2024 Appointed United technical director January 2026 Ruben Amorim leaves; Wilcox leads the search for his replacement; Carrick takes charge Summer 2026 United spend about £158m on Baleba, Santos and Tielemans Sources: Sky Sports (20 April 2024, 5 January 2026, 8 January 2026, 15 October 2026, 26 October 2026).
Where he sits at United Wilcox works alongside Berrada under the INEOS ownership of Ratcliffe. Alongside him, Christopher Vivell is head of recruitment and Michael Sansoni is director of data and AI, according to Sky Sports, which says Sansoni's analysis underpins the club's transfer plan.
Dan Ashworth, the former sporting director, is no longer at the club. That structure has made Wilcox the face of the football operation, and not always kindly.