Ambitious Freidkin Group vision for Everton now in place as Man Utd capture completed

Nick Cox, the final piece of TFG's leadership team, has now started work as technical director at the Blues

Nick Cox has started his role as Everton’s new technical director.

One of the highest profile appointments since the Friedkin Group took over the club in December, Cox will lead on all aspects of the Blues’ operation at Finch Farm - from player care to the academy.

His move to Merseyside was announced in June but he remained at Manchester United, where he was academy director, through the summer in order to help oversee the transition that will now follow his departure. His arrival at the club’s Halewood training base means TFG’s new football leadership team is now fully in place, just shy of four months after the US owners set out their vision for how the club would be run.

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Cox spent six years as director of Manchester United’s famous academy, where he initially arrived as head of academy operations in 2016. He oversaw the first team debuts of 35 academy players at Old Trafford, where he remains held in high-regard.

Key to his support of youth development was his belief in creating a ‘culture of excellence’ that ensured the club’s rising stars also pursued success in other aspects of their lives, particularly education.

Upon the confirmation of his departure, the director of football at Manchester United, Jason Wilcox, said: “Nick has made a huge contribution to Manchester United over the past nine years. I was already well aware of his qualities before I arrived at the club and have really enjoyed working together.

“Identifying and developing the best youth talent remains one of this club’s top priorities, and we are grateful for the work Nick has done to provide such a strong foundation for us to continue to build on. We wish him well for the next stage of his career.”

TFG and Everton will now hope he can establish similar levels of success at Finch Farm, where, according to the club, he will lead on “ensuring all aspects of Finch Farm are at the elite level, covering the medical, operations, facilities and player care departments, as well as the academy functions.”

Cox is the final piece in the football leadership setup created by TFG, an approach that has seen the club move away from the director of football model it had operated with previously. Former director of football Kevin Thelwell departed for Rangers in the summer upon the expiry of his contract.

Instead, Everton will now be overseen by a team of specialists, of which Cox is one. The rest of the unit includes chief executive Angus Kinnear, who moved across from Leeds United just before the end of last season. He was joined by Nick Hammond, who had most previously worked with Leeds, and who took on the role of leading the club’s player trading activity. Hammond was influential through the summer and involved in key developments such as Jarrad Branthwaite’s new contract.

James Smith took on his position as director of scouting and recruitment in late August, marking his return to Everton. After leaving the Blues he spent time with Manchester United before moving across to Manchester City and rising to the position of director of scouting and recruitment at the wider City Football Group.

Finally, Chris Howarth was appointed to direct the club's football strategy and analytics operations. Howarth had worked with clubs across Europe through his Insight Sport data consultancy which, as part of his arrival, TFG acquired. That expertise is now directed towards using data to improve Everton’s football operations.

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