Manchester United have added a new face to the brain trust behind the scenes at Old Trafford, appointing Christopher Vivell.
Christopher Vivell is a player recruitment expert who has been hired by Ineos to assist with the summer transfer window.
It underlines how serious Ineos are taking the job of player recruitment this summer, with Vivell appointed even after Dan Ashworth was confirmed as sporting director, in addition to technical director Jason Wilcox.
Ineos believe in a collaborative approach of smart minds – and one of the smartest in world football played a part in Vivell’s appointment.
Vivell hired after Rangnick recommendation
Christopher Vivell has experience working within the Red Bull group, first working as Red Bull Salzburg’s head of scouting in 2015.
During this time he worked under the director of football Ralf Rangnick, and he would go on to become technical director at RB Leipzig.
Rangick, now the Austria manager, spent time working as Manchester United interim manager in 2021/22 and had been intended to stay on as consultant.
After telling some public home truths about the dysfunction at Old Trafford, Rangnick’s exit from United was accelerated.
But during his time at the club, he laid out some plans and recommendations which Ineos have followed up on, as they look into how to conduct the ‘open heart surgery’ Manchester United needed.
HITC transfer insider Graeme Bailey told United In Focus: “I am told that Rangnick during his time at United set out plans when talking to the hierarchy and it was not just players who he pointed to as future recruits – he laid out plans for who he thought United should look at in terms of coaches and executives.
“One of those names was Christopher Vivell. Rangnick brought him into the RB network and I am told he always thought he would become sporting director at Salzburg or Leipzig, in the end it was the latter.
“If Rangnick had stayed at Old Trafford, I am told that the chances are Vivell would have likely joined United instead of Chelsea as he did in late 2022.
“But now he is at Old Trafford and there is a sense of excitement around him. Jason Wilcox played a pivotal role but Dan Ashworth rubber-stamped his arrival.
“Ashworth is believed to have a huge respect as to how the Red Bull organisation works and operates.
“Ashworth and his boss Sir Dave Brailsford feel the professionalism through the Red Bull sporting operation is something United should look to emulate and learn lessons from.
“United’s new footballing department intends to take the best practices from around the sporting world to take them back to the top off the pitch, as well as on the pitch.”
Manchester United building a backroom team to rival the very best
Manchester United are putting together a backroom team full of experience and elite operators, aimed at providing the knowledge, know-how and support to the manager and the players.
Ineos have done more in six months than the Glazers have done in two decades.
Expecting instant success from this group isn’t realistic, however. Manchester United need to forget the quick fixes.
This is part of a long-term project which would take a two to three years to flourish. But it is a coherent plan, and with the expertise Ineos are amassing, it feels like United cannot fail.
There are already some building blocks to work with, especially with an elite academy system, bringing through a succession of exciting young players.
If Ineos can further supplement this by signing more key first team players and elite prospects, then the Red Devils have a strong chance to further build on the last two trophy-winning seasons, which have plenty to improve on.