Manchester United have hired a new key off-field member of staff. He claims to be already making an impact.
While there have been heavy redundancies at Manchester United under Ineos, there are also key hires being made at the club.
One was announced on July 30, with Manchester United confirming the hire of data director Michael Sansoni.
Michael Sansoni will lead United’s charge into analytics, with the club looking at how the club can benefit from expertise and intelligence in key areas with regard to recruitment, performance and even injury handling.
F1 expert’s verdict on Michael Sansoni
Michael Sansoni arrives from a Formula 1 background, where he was working for Mercedes, who also have ties to Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Sansoni spent 10 years working at Mercedes and worked specifically with Lewis Hamilton as a performance engineer.
United In Focus spoke to F1 Oversteer expert Rory Mitchell to get the lowdown on Michael Sansoni to find out more about Manchester United’s behind-the-scenes hire.
Mitchell explained: “As is often the case with F1, it’s the people behind the scenes who make the biggest difference. Sansoni is one of hundreds of those who you don’t see in front of the cameras trackside in the fast-paced pit lane and paddock environment.
“Data is the main currency in Formula 1, and Sansoni worked directly with some of the main protagonists behind Lewis Hamilton’s record-breaking success at Mercedes.
“Sansoni’s role was part of the trackside team, working through the mountains of data that is collected from an F1 car, which is around 1.5 to 3 terabytes on a single race weekend, in a bid to optimise the car setup. It’s integral to making sure everything that happens on the track lines up with what is being developed at their factory.
“Although football players don’t have the same ability to ‘plug and play’ when it comes to data, the pivot towards sport science and using what happens in training to inform matches means Sansoni’s role is interoperable.”
Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty ImagesMichael Sansoni claims he has already made impact
Manchester United announced the hire of Michael Sansoni in late July, but he actually began work at the club in April. And he is committed to building out his department with further hires.
Sansoni posted to LinkedIn to claim that the two signings of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha are backed by his department: “Over the past few months, we’ve already made meaningful progress. With new methodologies starting to take shape and two fantastic signings, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbuemo, already reflecting some of that early work.”
United In Focus reported in late May that Manchester United’s interest in Mbeumo was being driven via analytics, with the former Brentford star standing out as one of the top performers in European football.
Sansoni added: “I’ve inherited a brilliant team: smart, committed, and hungry to make a difference and together we’re building a world-class data and AI function to power decision-making across football and the wider club.
“The challenge is great, but so is the opportunity. We’re only just getting started and I’ll be growing the team in the months ahead. It’s an honour to be here.”
United did not have a data department before 2022, and have begun building on the initial team put in place, with United bringing in Sansoni to lead the new-look unit.
Sansoni reports in to chief executive Omar Berrada, who is currently away with the first team squad on tour in the USA.