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Jason Wilcox

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Jason Wilcox
Personal information
Full name Jason Malcolm Wilcox
Date of birth (1971-07-15) 15 July 1971 (age 53)
Place of birth Farnworth, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Left winger[2]
Team information
Current team
 Manchester United (technical director)
Youth career
1987–1989 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1999 Blackburn Rovers 271 (31)
1999–2004 Leeds United 81 (4)
2004–2006 Leicester City 20 (1)
2005–2006 → Blackpool (loan) 12 (0)
2006 Blackpool 14 (0)
Total 398 (36)
International career
1994–1998 England B 2 (0)
1996–2000 England 3 (0)
Managerial career
2013–2017 Manchester City (U18s)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jason Malcolm Wilcox (born 15 July 1971) is an English football executive, coach, and former professional footballer. He is currently technical director at Premier League club Manchester United.

As a player, Wilcox was a left winger from 1989 until 2006, notably in the Premier League for Blackburn Rovers, where he won the title in 1995. He also played in the top flight for Leeds United and for Leicester City in the Championship. He retired following a brief stint in the Football League with Blackpool. He made three appearances for England.

After retiring from football, Wilcox was initially a co-commentator for BBC Radio Lancashire before moving into coaching with Manchester City in 2012. He went on to become the academy director at Premier League side Manchester City, a post he held until 2023 when he joined Southampton.[3][4] He left Southampton in April 2024 to join Manchester United.[5]

Early life

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Jason Malcolm Wilcox[2] was born on 15 March 1971[6] in Farnworth, Lancashire.[7]

Club career

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Blackburn Rovers

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Wilcox joined Blackburn Rovers at the age of sixteen after his father wrote to the club asking for a trial.[8] After impressing at training on Sunday, Wilcox signed a contract on the Monday, before playing in the FA Youth Cup final only weeks after.[8] Rovers youth-team manager Jim Furnell described him as "one of the best young midfielders in English football".[citation needed]

Wilcox would go on to score 33 goals in over 300 games with Blackburn, whom he also captained. Wilcox was one of the only first-team players of that era who came from the club's own youth system and was not signed from other teams with the multimillion-pound investments of Jack Walker.[citation needed] He played an important part in the title-winning Blackburn team of 1995.[9] Playing on the left flank with attacking fullback Graeme Le Saux behind him and Stuart Ripley on the opposite flank, they forged a strong attacking line-up with Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton.[10][11]

Lengthy injury problems restricted Wilcox's effectiveness in subsequent seasons and, after experiencing relegation with Blackburn, he moved on to Leeds United for £4 million in December 1999.[12] With the club having just been relegated and with the emergence of Damien Duff, Rovers saw it as good business for a successful youth product. He was Blackburn's longest-serving player at the time of joining Leeds.[8]

Leeds United

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Wilcox, who scored on his debut, played in his usual position as a left-sided midfielder at Leeds, moving Harry Kewell into a more advanced role.[13] He helped the Yorkshire side to the semi-finals of the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup, where they lost to eventual winners, Galatasaray.[14] A year later he was part of the club's run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, where they lost again, this time to eventually consecutive runners-up Valencia.[15]

Wilcox again suffered relegation, in 2004, as Leeds struggled with a large financial burden after failing to qualify for the Champions League, forcing the sale of several high-profile stars.[16] He was released by Leeds in May 2004.[17] Overall, he made 106 appearances for Leeds, scoring six goals.

Leicester City

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In 2004, Wilcox signed on a free transfer with fellow relegated club Leicester on a one-year deal.[18] He initially signed a one-year deal which was extended by another year in the summer of 2005. Wilcox made an excellent start to his Leicester career, but unfortunately picked up a horrific cruciate ligament injury in October 2004.[citation needed] It was feared it would end his season and maybe his career, but he returned in City's 3–1 win over Millwall on 2 April 2005. He scored once for Leicester, in a 3–2 win over Sheffield United in September 2004.[19] In May 2005, he signed a new one-year contract with Leicester.[20] In November 2005, he joined Blackpool on a one-month loan.[21]

Blackpool

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On 28 January 2006, Wilcox joined Blackpool on a free transfer following a two-month spell on loan to the club, after his old Blackburn teammate Simon Grayson requested Wilcox join the club to help save them from relegation.[22] He was released at the end of the season after a disagreement with other staff members.[citation needed]

International career

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Wilcox won his first England cap in a 3–0 win over Hungary in 1996. After a great debut, in which he hit the bar in the first minute, many tipped him to make the final squad for Euro 96; however, he was cut from the final squad of 22 players in what Terry Venables described as one of the toughest decisions of his career. He went on to play against France in 1999 and Argentina in 2000; these turned out to be his only other full caps.[23] Wilcox made the provisional squad for Euro 2000 but was replaced by Gareth Barry after an injury.[24] He also made two appearances for the B team, against Chile and Hong Kong.[citation needed]

Coaching career

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Manchester City

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Wilcox joined the Manchester City coaching staff in 2012 as an academy coach, a year later he made the step up to the U18s as their head coach and oversaw a national championship title and two FA Youth Cup finals. In 2017 after a spell in the job on an interim basis he was appointed to the role of academy director.[25]

Executive roles

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Southampton

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On 20 January 2023, Wilcox was appointed director of football at Southampton.[4] Wilcox joined Southampton in the summer after serving a notice period with City.[26]

Manchester United

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He left Southampton and was appointed technical director at Manchester United on 19 April 2024 after both clubs agreed compensation.[27][5]

Personal life

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Wilcox is a black belt in judo and even represented England before he became a professional footballer.[23][8] When he reached the age of seventeen he was made to choose between the two sports, only being able to fully commit himself to one of them as a potential career path.[citation needed]

After retiring from football, Wilcox took some time out from the game before joining the commentary staff of BBC Radio Lancashire for a year, as well as having his own weekly column in the Lancashire Telegraph.[citation needed]

Honours

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Blackburn Rovers

References

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  1. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 453. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
  2. ^ a b "Jason Wilcox". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Jason Wilcox lands Manchester City academy directorship". TNT Sports. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Wilcox appointed Director of Football". Southampton FC. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Jason Wilcox appointed as technical director". Manchester United FC. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  6. ^ @AndyBayes (15 March 2021). "Happy 50th Birthday to #rovers title winner Jason Wilcox. If you look on wiki, it tells you it's in July...it isn'…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Jason Wilcox". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d "Jim fixed it for Jason". Lancashire Telegraph. 24 April 1999. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  9. ^ Cryer, Andy (24 May 2010). "Jason Wilcox on the Blackburn Rovers revolution: Part one". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  10. ^ Mackey, Ed (7 October 2021). "Who is Jason Wilcox? Manchester City academy chief linked with Newcastle Director of Football role". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  11. ^ Johnstone, Neil (14 May 2020). "Blackburn Rovers: The inside story of a remarkable Premier League triumph". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  12. ^ Hutchison, Andrew (7 March 2021). "Jason Wilcox - The right Leeds United signing at the wrong time". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  13. ^ Hutchinson, Andrew (7 March 2021). "Jason Wilcox in focus - Memories of a Leeds United winger". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Leeds fall short of glory". BBC Sport. 20 April 2000. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Leeds' luck runs out in Valencia". BBC Sport. 8 May 2001. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  16. ^ Sweeney, James (23 April 2019). "The gripping rise and crushing fall of Leeds United at the turn of the 21st century". These Football Times. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  17. ^ Walker, Graham (14 May 2004). "Six Departures Confirmed". Leeds United FC. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Leicester capture Wilcox". BBC Sport. 1 July 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Leicester 3–2 Sheff Utd". BBC. 14 September 2004. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  20. ^ "New Leicester contract for Wilcox". BBC Sport. 19 May 2005. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Blackpool clinch Wilcox loan deal". BBC Sport. 24 November 2005. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  22. ^ "Wilcox joins Blackpool from Foxes". BBC Sport. 28 January 2006. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  23. ^ a b "England". The FA. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
  24. ^ "England bring in Barry for Wilcox". BBC Sport. 23 May 2000. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  25. ^ "Jason Wilcox appointed Academy Director". Manchester City FC. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  26. ^ Warlow, Rob (20 January 2023). "What makes ex-Blackburn and Leeds United player Jason Wilcox a 'perfect fit' for Southampton". Hampshire Live. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  27. ^ "Club statement: Jason Wilcox". Southampton FC. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Jason Wilcox: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
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