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Dan Ashworth

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Dan Ashworth
Sporting Director of Manchester United
In office
1 July 2024 – 8 December 2024
LeaderDave Brailsford
Jean-Claude Blanc
David Gill
Michael Edelson
Alex Ferguson
Sporting Director of Newcastle United
In office
7 February 2022 – 19 February 2024
LeaderYasir Al-Rumayyan
Amanda Staveley
Jamie Reuben
ChairmanYasir Al-Rumayyan
Preceded byJoe Kinnear (Director of Football)
Succeeded byPaul Mitchell
Personal details
Born
Daniel Ashworth

(1971-03-06) 6 March 1971 (age 53)
OccupationSporting Director
Footballer (1989–2000)

Daniel Ashworth (born 6 March 1971) is an English football director. He was the sporting director for Premier League clubs Manchester United and Newcastle United, while previously also worked as technical director for West Bromwich Albion and Brighton & Hove Albion, and was FA director of elite development.

Early life and career

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Daniel Ashworth[1] was born on 6 March 1971.[2] He was raised in Norfolk[3] and studied at the College of West Anglia from 1987 to 1989.[4] After time in the academy at Norwich City, Ashworth joined non-league club Eastbourne Town playing 21 games and scoring four goals[5] before moving across to St. Leonards. Ashworth later spent time in the United States, coaching West Florida Fury, before returning to England to play for Wisbech Town. Ashworth left Wisbech in the autumn of 2000, following financial problems at the club.[6]

Ashworth continued to be involved with football after retiring as a player, and was appointed academy director at Peterborough United in 2000.[7] In 2001, he went on to become centre of excellence director at Cambridge United until March 2004 when he moved to West Bromwich Albion assisting youth team manager Aidy Boothroyd. After Boothroyd's departure in the July of that year he took over as youth team manager until he was promoted to the club's sporting and technical director in December 2007.[8]

On 17 September 2012, Ashworth was appointed as the FA director of elite development.[9] He is one of the creators of the "England DNA", an elite player development plan which aims "to help create winning senior teams, in the men's and the women's game."[10][11] In August 2018, it was reported that Ashworth has been shortlisted by Manchester United as a candidate for the technical director.[12]

In September 2018, it was announced that Ashworth had resigned his role with the FA, and would take up the post of technical director at Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion in spring 2019.[13] In February 2022, it was confirmed that Ashworth had agreed to join Premier League club Newcastle United, taking up the post of sporting director.[14]

In February 2024, it was reported that Manchester United wanted Ashworth to become the club's sporting director, and the two clubs have been negotiating this move. On 19 February, Newcastle confirmed his departure, and he had begun a period of gardening leave.[15] He offically joined Manchester United on 1 July 2024, after an agreement was finalised with his former club.[16][17] However, just 5 months into the role, Ashworth left the club. His departure, confirmed by mutual agreement, came amid a period of transition and restructuring at the club.[18]

Personal life

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His son Zac Ashworth is a professional footballer, who plays for Blackpool.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Dan Ashworth". zerozero.pt (in Portuguese). ZOS. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  2. ^ Ziegler, Martyn (17 September 2012). "West Brom's Dan Ashworth appointed director of elite development by FA". The Independent. London. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  3. ^ "The man from Norfolk who helped England to the verge of World Cup glory". Eastern Daily Press. Norwich. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Hall of Fame". College of West Anglia. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  5. ^ "ETFC Player Profile: Dan Ashworth". [eastbournetown.com]. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Dan Ashworth". Flown From The Nest. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  7. ^ Austin, Simon (25 September 2012). "Roy Hodgson's England: Trevor Brooking on Dan Ashworth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Mowbray praises chairman's decision". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 15 July 2008. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  9. ^ "Dan Ashworth named FA director of elite development". BBC Sport. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  10. ^ "England DNA - The playing and coaching philosophy of the England teams". community.thefa.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  11. ^ "England DNA plan: Dan Ashworth believes his manifesto will breed a new". The Independent. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Manchester United identify Dan Ashworth and Paul Mitchell for technical director role". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Football Association technical director Dan Ashworth to join Brighton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Newcastle to appoint ex-Brighton technical director as director of football". BBC Sport. 7 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Dan Ashworth commences gardening leave". Newcastle United F.C. 19 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Ashworth joins Manchester United as sporting director". Manchester United F.C. 1 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Dan Ashworth leaves Manchester United after five months as sporting director". TheAthletic.com. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  18. ^ "Dan Ashworth: Man Utd sporting director leaves after just five months". BBC Sport. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
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