Birmingham City have officially appointed former Manchester United executive John Murtough as their new director of football. The 55-year-old succeeds Craig Gardner, who vacated the post at St Andrew's in June. Murtough is set to commence his duties on Monday, immediately following the club's upcoming Championship encounter with Cardiff City.
Under the leadership structure established by American owners Knighthead Capital Management, men's head coach Chris Davies will report directly to Murtough. His wide-ranging remit encompasses recruitment, performance, data, and managing the development pathway from the academy to the senior squad. Additionally, Murtough will collaborate with Hope Powell to ensure the women's team—who were Women's Super League runners-up in 2011 and 2012, but currently occupy 13th place—benefits from the organisation's comprehensive sporting strategy.
Murtough arrives with extensive experience across English and European football, having most recently served as director of global development for Serie A outfit Atalanta. Prior to that, he spent 11 years at Manchester United before departing in April 2024. While overseeing football strategy and operations at Old Trafford, he managed transitions including the departures of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick, and Ralf Rangnick, the hiring of Erik ten Hag, and major transfer acquisitions including Antony for £81.3m, Jadon Sancho for £73m, Rasmus Hojlund for £72m, and Mason Mount for £55m. His administrative career also includes stints with Everton, Fulham, Coventry City, and the Premier League.
The appointment brings top-level executive experience to St Andrew's amid positive momentum on the pitch, with Blues sitting fourth in the Championship table—just three points adrift of Swansea City—following three consecutive victories under Davies since the international break. Commenting on the move, Murtough noted that the club possesses "brilliant fans and enormous potential," citing Knighthead's clear ambition to build for the long term. Knighthead Capital Management reiterated their target of "competing at the highest level of English football" and establishing sustained progress both on and off the field.