Jason Wilcox Biography: Jason Malcolm Wilcox born 15 July 1971 is an English football executive, coach, and former professional player. He currently holds the position of Sporting Director at Premier League club Manchester United. As a player, Wilcox operated primarily as a left winger, enjoying a professional career from 1989 to 2006.
Jason Wilcox Biography
Wilcox’s move to Old Trafford was a logical step, especially given his previous working relationship with Omar Berrada during their time at Manchester City, where Wilcox served as Academy Director. Now reunited, Berrada—currently the CEO at Manchester United—will once again collaborate with Wilcox, who left his role at Southampton after just nine months to take up the position. Wilcox’s path to Manchester United is rooted in a distinguished playing and coaching career. A former England international with three senior caps, he played a vital role in Blackburn Rovers’ Premier League title win in the 1994/95 season. He began his post-playing career at Manchester City in 2012, joining the academy coaching staff before being promoted to head coach of the U18 team.
Jason Wilcox Biography 2025 Details
| Full name | Jason Malcolm Wilcox | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 July 1971 | ||
| Place of birth | Farnworth, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Left winger | ||
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Current team
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Manchester United (technical director) | ||
| Category | Football Biographies | ||
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About Jason Wilcox
Jason Malcolm Wilcox is an English football executive, coach, and former professional footballer. He is currently serving as the Sporting Director at Premier League club Manchester United.
Jason Wilcox Wiki
- Born: 15 July 1971 (age 53 years), Farnworth, United Kingdom
- Team coached: Manchester United F.C. (Technical Director, since 2024)
- Position(s): Left winger
- Nationality: English
- Date joined: 2004 (Leicester City F.C.)
- Height: 1.78 m
Jason Wilcox Achievements
He is best known for his time at Blackburn Rovers, where he played a key role in their 1995 Premier League title win. He also featured in the Premier League for Leeds United and later played in the Championship with Leicester City before retiring after a short stint with Blackpool in the Football League. Wilcox earned three caps for the England national team during his playing career. After retiring, Wilcox initially worked as a co-commentator for BBC Radio Lancashire. He then transitioned into coaching, joining Manchester City’s academy in 2012.
Club Career
Wilcox joined Blackburn Rovers at the age of 16 after his father wrote to the club requesting a trial. Following a promising training session, he was signed the next day and soon played in the FA Youth Cup Final. Former youth coach Jim Furnell once described him as “one of the best young midfielders in English football.” Wilcox spent over a decade at Blackburn, making more than 300 appearances and scoring 33 goals. He also served as team captain and was one of the few homegrown players in the squad during the era of heavy financial investment under owner Jack Walker.
A key part of the 1994–95 title-winning side, Wilcox formed a potent attacking unit on the left with full-back Graeme Le Saux, opposite winger Stuart Ripley, and forwards Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton. However, recurring injuries limited his contributions in later seasons. Following Blackburn’s relegation, and with rising star Damien Duff emerging, Wilcox was sold to Leeds United in December 1999 for £4 million.
International Career
Jason Wilcox earned his first cap for England in a 3–0 victory over Hungary in 1996. He impressed on debut, nearly scoring within the first minute after hitting the crossbar. Despite a strong performance, he was ultimately left out of the final Euro ’96 squad, with manager Terry Venables later describing the decision to omit Wilcox as one of the toughest of his career.
Wilcox made two further appearances for the senior national team — against France in 1999 and Argentina in 2000 — bringing his total number of full England caps to three. He was named in the provisional squad for Euro 2000, but an injury ruled him out, and he was replaced by Gareth Barry. Additionally, Wilcox featured twice for England B, appearing in matches against Chile and Hong Kong.
Coaching Career
In 2012, Wilcox joined Manchester City’s academy as a coach. A year later, he was promoted to head coach of the U18 team, guiding them to a national championship and two appearances in the FA Youth Cup final. His success in youth development led to a promotion in 2017, when he was appointed academy director, initially serving in an interim capacity.
On 20 January 2023, Wilcox was named Director of Football at Southampton. He officially joined the club in the summer after completing his notice period with Manchester City. Wilcox departed Southampton and joined Manchester United as Technical Director on 19 April 2024, following an agreement on compensation between the two clubs. Later that year, following the departure of Dan Ashworth on 8 December 2024, Wilcox stepped up to take on the role of Sporting Director, assuming responsibility for overseeing the club’s overall football operations.
Personal Life
Before pursuing a professional football career, Wilcox was a talented judoka, earning a black belt and representing England in the sport. At the age of 17, he was forced to choose between judo and football, ultimately committing to the latter. Following his retirement from football, Wilcox spent a year as a commentator for BBC Radio Lancashire and also contributed a weekly column to the Lancashire Telegraph.
Jason Wilcox Net Worth 2025
Determining Jason Wilcox’s exact net worth in 2025 is challenging, as precise figures are not publicly available through sources like Wikipedia or Transfermarkt. As a former professional footballer and now a senior executive in football management, his wealth is likely built from a combination of career earnings, performance bonuses, investments, and possibly other business ventures. According to The New York Times, Wilcox played a key role in retaining Cole Palmer at Manchester City, who later rose to prominence at Chelsea. His involvement in key player development and recruitment indicates that he held significant responsibilities in his managerial roles—positions that typically come with competitive salaries and potential bonus structures.
FAQs
What role did Jason Wilcox play in Blackburn Rovers’ Premier League win?
Jason Wilcox was a key part of Blackburn Rovers’ title-winning squad in the 1994/95 Premier League season, contributing from the left wing with his creativity and consistency.
When did Jason Wilcox join Manchester United?
Jason Wilcox officially joined Manchester United in April 2024, after leaving his position as Director of Football at Southampton.
What is Jason Wilcox’s connection to Omar Berrada?
Jason Wilcox previously worked alongside Omar Berrada at Manchester City, where Wilcox was Academy Director. Their professional relationship continued when Berrada became CEO at Manchester United, paving the way for Wilcox’s arrival at Old Trafford.
How did Jason Wilcox perform at Southampton?
During his short tenure at Southampton, Wilcox played a crucial role in recruitment, using his links with Manchester City to sign players like Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Shea Charles, aiming to push the club back into the Premier League.
What positions has Jason Wilcox held in football after retiring?
After retiring, Wilcox transitioned from academy coach to head coach of Manchester City’s U18s, later becoming Academy Director. He then served as Director of Football at Southampton and is now Sporting Director at Manchester United.
How did Jason Wilcox start his post-playing career?
Wilcox began his post-playing career in 2012 as a coach at Manchester City’s academy, eventually working his way up to become a leading figure in youth development and football management.