SPORTS MEDICINE HEAD TO LEAVE AFTER 18 MONTHS
Manchester United’s head of sports medicine, Gary O’Driscoll, is set to leave the club after just 18 months in the role. The news comes as a surprise, with club sources confirming that O'Driscoll’s departure is unrelated to the club’s recent round of redundancies or the ongoing injury crisis at the first-team level.
O'Driscoll joined Manchester United from Arsenal in September 2023, a move that was hailed as a significant coup for the club. During his brief tenure, he oversaw numerous changes within the medical department.
However, despite his initial success, O'Driscoll has decided to move on, prompting a shake-up in the club’s medical staff. Jim Moxon, the men’s first-team football doctor, is also leaving the club to take up a new role elsewhere.
Both O'Driscoll and Moxon are expected to stay on for a short period to ensure a smooth transition and to avoid any disruption in the medical support provided to the players during the final months of the season. Manchester United is already in the process of searching for replacements to fill these important roles.
Sources within the club have stated that the exits of O'Driscoll and Moxon are not connected to the latest round of job cuts at United, which could see up to 200 staff members laid off, or the ongoing struggles with player injuries. The club has faced significant injury challenges in recent times, with head coach Ruben Amorim currently without 10 key players ahead of the crucial second leg of the Europa League round-of-16 tie against Real Sociedad on Thursday. The first leg of the tie ended in a 1-1 draw.
The injuries have been an ongoing issue for United, dating back to the previous season under former manager Erik ten Hag. This season, injuries have continued to pile up, with key players such as Lisandro Martínez ruled out for the remainder of the season. Amad Diallo’s return is uncertain, and long-term absentees include Luke Shaw and Mason Mount. Harry Maguire, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, Jonny Evans, Altay Bayindir, and Tom Heaton are also currently sidelined. Amorim remains hopeful that Ugarte may be available for the second leg against Sociedad, but the team’s injury woes are far from over.
In other news, it has been reported that Chelsea may face a significant financial penalty if they choose not to sign Jadon Sancho permanently from Manchester United this summer. Sancho is currently on loan at Stamford Bridge, with the deal containing an obligation to buy for between £20 million and £25 million, contingent on Chelsea finishing in the top 14 of the Premier League this season.
However, there have been reports indicating that Sancho has yet to agree on contract terms with Chelsea, and the club is reportedly considering other winger options. If Chelsea fails to secure Sancho permanently, they may be required to pay a substantial financial penalty, adding further complexity to the situation.
As Manchester United navigates these changes, both on and off the field, the club will look to recover from its injury crisis and ensure that the medical department remains fully functional as they continue their fight for success across multiple competitions.