John Murtough will be the new director of football at Birmingham – his first job in English football since leaving Manchester United.
Murtough leaves Serie A club Atalanta to move to the ambitious Championship club, who are targeting promotion to the Premier League this season.
Murtough joins Birmingham City with almost three decades of experience across elite football, having held senior roles at United, the Premier League, Everton, Fulham and Coventry City.
The 55-year-old’s remit will span men’s football strategy and identity, recruitment and squad building, working alongside the first-team staff and recruitment teams.
He will also attempt to the connection between the academy and first team to establish a clear and consistent football philosophy across the club.
Daily Mail Sport first revealed Birmingham’s approach for Murtough earlier this month.
Blues’ US owners Knighthead are working on a £3billion plan for a new Sports Quarter in the east of Birmingham, which would include a 62,000-seat stadium.
John Murtough – Birmingham City’s new director of football – is pictured with Erik ten Hag at his Manchester United unveiling
Renderings of the ‘Powerhouse’ stadium plan. Ambitious Birmingham hope it will be ready by 2031
Premier League football is therefore a must-have and Knighthead are convinced Murtough can help deliver it.
Birmingham currently sit fourth in the Championship after winning five and drawing five of their first 11 matches.
Winger Liam Millar, who was promoted from the second tier with Hull City last season, this week made comparisons between that campaign and the high-flying team he’s moved to on loan this year.
‘I see a lot of similarities between our team last year at Hull and this Birmingham team now,’ he said.
‘Honestly, I feel really good about what’s happening here so far.
‘I’m just going to keep doing everything I can, and I’m sure the lads will do everything they can, to make sure that we get over the line this season and do what we all think we can do.’
