15-04-2025
Ex-Manchester United football director John Murtough joins Atalanta
Former Manchester United football director John Murtough has joined Atalanta as the Italian club's director of global development.
Murtough left United in April 2024 after more than 10 years of service at the club, whom he joined in 2013 after stints working for the Premier League, Everton, Coventry City and Fulham.
Advertisement
The 54-year-old initially focused on United's academy and scouting, before a promotion to head of football development in 2016 and, five years later, becoming the club's first football director.
Murtough's role essentially placed him in overall charge of the men's, women's and academy operations at the club, playing a key role in the arrival of Erik ten Hag as manager in 2022 and in the club's player recruitment.
Murtough would have dealt with the Serie A club while at Old Trafford over the arrivals of Amad (£37million transfer fee) at United in 2020 and striker Rasmus Hojlund (£64m plus £8.5m in performance-related add-ons) three years later.
Atalanta BC comunica l'ingresso di John Murtough nell'Area Sportiva del Club, della quale entra a far parte con effetto immediato in qualità di Director of Global Development.#GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) April 15, 2025
Atalanta say Murtough's role at the club will be co-ordinated by sporting director Tony D'Amico, with the aim of 'strengthening an area that aims to further develop its international vision'.
Atalanta, led by manager Gian Piero Gasperini, are currently third in Serie A, seven points behind second-place Napoli and 10 from league leaders Inter.
The Bergamo-based club won the 2023-24 Europa League title, just the second major trophy in their history and their first since a Coppa Italia success in 1963.
(Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
