Dan Ashworth may not be out of football for long after his unexpected departure from Manchester United, where he served as the club’s first-ever sporting director for just five months.
Ashworth seems to have been an early casualty of the new regime at Old Trafford, with senior figures like co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and CEO Omar Berrada figuring out how to align their working methods. While Ashworth’s approach didn’t quite fit with their vision, raising questions about why this wasn’t recognized during due diligence, his reputation remains strong.
Ashworth first rose to prominence at West Bromwich Albion, before being recruited by the FA to work with England’s national teams. His tenure coincided with Gareth Southgate’s success, leading England to the World Cup semi-finals after years of underachievement. He then moved on to improve the sporting setups at Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United, further cementing his reputation.
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Despite his brief stint at Manchester United, Ashworth is unlikely to struggle for opportunities. According to ESPN, Arsenal has already added his name to a “list of possible candidates” for their vacant sporting director role.
Arsenal are currently without a sporting director following Edu’s departure to take a new, lucrative position with Nottingham Forest’s multi-club ownership group. Ashworth’s previous working relationship with Arsenal managing director Richard Garlick, who succeeded Ashworth at West Brom, adds further fuel to the rumors.
While Arsenal were caught off guard by Edu’s departure and didn’t have a succession plan in place, they have some time to carefully consider their options, especially with expectations that the January transfer window will be quieter than usual. Edu is on gardening leave until the end of the season, though it’s unclear if Ashworth’s departure from Manchester United would allow him to start a new job immediately or if he’s restricted by any severance agreement.