Manchester United have announced that Head of First Team Development Nicky Butt will step down from his role at the club after nine years in coaching and development roles at Old Trafford.
Nicky Butt to Leave Manchester United Role
Butt Looking for ‘New Challenge’
The surprising news was released on Manchester United’s website, with an official statement explaining the reason for the former United midfielder’s decision.
Butt spoke about his decision in the statement, citing a new challenge in his career as his motivation to leave the club: “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.”
The 46-year-old had been a crucial part of the club’s youth development system throughout a period where several youth academy players were successfully integrated into the senior team.
Throughout his spell at the club where he was involved with coaching and development roles, players like Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, and Paul Pogba have become important first-team players, having learned their trade in United’s academy.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer paid tribute to Butt’s work at the club, saying: “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.
“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.”
Lasting Legacy for Nicky Butt
Butt, a product of United’s youth academy himself, has left a lasting legacy at the club. His 12 years playing at the club included an array of trophy wins, while his more recent years with the club’s academy have left lasting groundwork for the club to continue to produce international footballers.
United’s head of academy Nicky Cox also spoke in the statement, citing the importance of the work Butt has done with the club in recent years: “He has been central to the work that has been done to strengthen the Academy in recent seasons and his unique perspective as a former Academy graduate has been a constant reminder to us all to remain committed to the club’s incredible history whilst constantly striving to innovate and improve.
“While we are sorry to see him go, Nicky’s legacy will continue in the many young players that remain in our programme that he has helped to identify, inspire and develop. It is this that will ensure that the pathway from Academy to First team continues for many years to come.”
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