Jason Wilcox
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Jason Malcolm Wilcox | ||
Date of birth | 15 March 1971 | ||
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 (U18's) | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Jason Malcolm Wilcox (born 15 March 1971) is an English football executive, coach, and former professional footballer. He is currently technical director at
As a player, Wilcox was a
.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
Jason Malcolm Wilcox[2] was born on 15 March 1971[6] in Farnworth, Lancashire.[7]
Club career
Blackburn Rovers
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
Wilcox, who scored on his debut, played in his usual position as a left-sided midfielder at Leeds, moving
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
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
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
Wilcox won his first
Coaching career
Wilcox joined the Manchester City coaching staff in 2012 as an academy coach, a year later he made the step up to the U18's 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]
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]
He left Southampton and was appointed technical director at Manchester United on 19 April 2024 after both clubs agreed compensation.[27][5]
Personal life
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
Blackburn Rovers
References
- ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
- ^ a b "Jason Wilcox". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "Jason Wilcox lands Manchester City academy directorship". TNT Sports. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Wilcox appointed Director of Football". Southampton FC. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Jason Wilcox appointed as technical director". Manchester United FC. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ @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.
- ^ "Jason Wilcox". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Jim fixed it for Jason". Lancashire Telegraph. 24 April 1999. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ Cryer, Andy (24 May 2010). "Jason Wilcox on the Blackburn Rovers revolution: Part one". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Johnstone, Neil (14 May 2020). "Blackburn Rovers: The inside story of a remarkable Premier League triumph". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ Hutchison, Andrew (7 March 2021). "Jason Wilcox - The right Leeds United signing at the wrong time". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ Hutchinson, Andrew (7 March 2021). "Jason Wilcox in focus - Memories of a Leeds United winger". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ "Leeds fall short of glory". BBC Sport. 20 April 2000. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ "Leeds' luck runs out in Valencia". BBC Sport. 8 May 2001. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Walker, Graham (14 May 2004). "Six Departures Confirmed". Leeds United FC. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ "Leicester capture Wilcox". BBC Sport. 1 July 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ "Leicester 3–2 Sheff Utd". BBC. 14 September 2004. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
- ^ "New Leicester contract for Wilcox". BBC Sport. 19 May 2005. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ "Blackpool clinch Wilcox loan deal". BBC Sport. 24 November 2005. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ "Wilcox joins Blackpool from Foxes". BBC Sport. 28 January 2006. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ a b "England". The FA. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
- ^ "England bring in Barry for Wilcox". BBC Sport. 23 May 2000. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
- ^ "Jason Wilcox appointed Academy Director". Manchester City FC. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Club statement: Jason Wilcox". Southampton FC. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Jason Wilcox: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
External links
- Jason Wilcox at Soccerbase