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Manchester United have undergone a massive reshuffle of off-pitch staff since INEOS took charge earlier this year.
Whilst Omar Berrada has joined from rivals Manchester City as the new CEO, Dan Ashworth has controversially joined as the new sporting director from Newcastle United.
Jason Wilcox has joined from Southampton as the technical director, with the club most recently appointing Christopher Vivell to support with recruitment.
So far, the new set of senior managers appear to be holding their own in their first transfer market at Old Trafford, signing four incredible talents in the form of Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
However, now a returning face has been added to the staff team after 27 years away from Old Trafford.
Michael Appleton is new addition to off-pitch management
Former Manchester United Academy player Michael Appleton is now set to re-join the Red Devils as their new loans manager.
The Daily Mail have reported that Ashworth is looking at the 48-year-old for the role, with the pair sharing a close relationship from their time working together at West Brom.
Whilst Les Parry currently sits in that position, it’s understood that Appleton is inline to replace him.
With loan moves being a vital part of the development of talented youngsters, Appleton will have a lot on his hands when he takes on the role.
Last season, some of the United loanees suffered disastrous loan spells, with Dan Gore being side-lined at Port Vale after an injury saw him make only one appearance, and Maxi Oyedele was “frozen out” while at Forest Green Roves following the sacking of Troy Deeney.
So far, United have managed to line up two loan spells, with Joe Hugill already at Wigan Athletic and goalkeeper Radek Vitek looking likely for another loan after his impressive spell at Accrington Stanley last year.
When Appleton steps into the role, his responsibility will be to monitor the progress of these young stars, ensuring their development through their time on loan.
Appleton’s career so far
After graduating from the United academy back in 1994, Appleton went on a series of loans to Wimbledon FC and Grimsby Town before joining Preston in 1997.
After four years he joined West Brom where he saw out the rest of his playing days, before beginning his managerial career with the club.
In 2003 Appleton managed the Under-18s side before progressing through the ranks to manage the reserve team and then become assistant manager of the main squad under Roberto Di Matteo and then Roy Hodgon.
After Hodgson’s departure, Appleton took a brief stint as caretaker manager before departing to Portsmouth.
From here the 48-year-old took a run of short term positions at Blackpool and Blackburn before settling at Oxford United for three years.
Moving to Leicester as assistant manager for a couple of years, Appleton then found himself back at West Brom as assistant manager to the senior squad and managing the Under-21s side for a matter of months.
Moving from here, the former United academy graduate took on the managerial role at Lincoln City for three years before returning briefly to Blackpool and then finding himself at Charlton Athletic.
Having been without a club since January this year, Appleton’s return to Old Trafford will mark newly three decades away from the club, with him taking on a very new role to what he’s experienced previously.
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