Nicky Butt steps down from Manchester United position

Nicky Butt TEAMtalk

Nicky Butt is to step down as Manchester United’s head of first-team development to pursue “a new professional challenge”.

Former United midfielder Butt has spent nine years in coaching and player development positions at the club’s academy. The 46-year-old has played a key role in overseeing the progress of the likes of Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay, Axel Tuanzebe, Dean Henderson and Mason Greenwood into the first team.

“Having come through the academy myself to play almost 400 games for Manchester United, it has been an absolute privilege to come back and work with a new generation of talent making that same journey,” Butt told manutd.com.

“I’m proud of the role everyone on the staff plays in giving our young footballers the best possible chance of fulfilling their potential. And the results are clear to see in the increased number of homegrown players reaching the first team.

“I already know from my playing days how difficult it is to leave Manchester United. But it feels like the right moment for a new professional challenge and I look forward to exploring opportunities that build on the great experiences I’ve had here over the past nine years.”

Butt’s former United team-mate and current first-team manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer paid tribute to the work of Butt.

“Nicky will always be a legend of Manchester United as a six-time Premier League winner and, of course, an integral part of our treble-winning team,” he said.

 

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“That pedigree has made him a great source of guidance and inspiration to our academy players since he returned to the club.

“We are all going to miss him around the Aon Training Complex but Nicky knows he will always be welcome back.”

Earlier this month United revamped their backroom set-up with John Murtough appointed to a new role of football director with former midfielder Darren Fletcher promoted to technical director.

Chong fancies Club Brugge stay

Meanwhile, Tahith Chong says he is already thinking about staying with Club Brugge next season – but his future will depend on Manchester United.

Chong has been a Man Utd player since joining their academy from Feyenoord in 2016. After making 16 first-team appearances, he left on loan for Werder Bremen last summer. But that spell did not go to plan for the winger, so he made the switch to Brugge in January.

He will be on loan in Belgium until the end of the season. After that, United will have to work out a plan for the 21-year-old. With just one year left on his contract by the summer, his parent club must decide whether to keep him, loan him out again or sell him.

Chong, for his part, can envisage spending another season in Belgium – as his coach has already hinted at.

“Staying here for another year could give me stability, but that’s for later,” he told Sport/Voetbalmagazine (via Sport Witness).

“As far as I know, there is no option in the agreement; we will have to discuss that with Manchester United later.

“I like Belgium, it is a bit the same as the Netherlands. Something that is in my head: that by staying here maybe a little more stability can come, but it is now super difficult to fully focus on that.”

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