Overview

• Multiple UK outlets citing the BBC report that Manek has agreed to take the role and that staff at Manchester United and Brentford have been informed.
• His remit will include running Carrington with responsibility for travel, security, training facilities, staff management and infrastructure across the men’s and women’s setups.
• The position revives a director‑level operations role that was cut under Sir Jim Ratcliffe after David Harrison held it from 2023 to 2025.
• Manek joined Brentford in 2022, was promoted to chief operating officer in July 2024, and previously spent five years at Arsenal as head of first‑team football operations.
• The move continues United’s restructuring with recent senior hires such as Jason Wilcox, Marc Armstrong and Stephen Torpey, while Brentford manage further departures and interim cover in their academy.