http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2012/October/MCFC-announcement
Manchester City Football Club recently announced that the City Football Academy, a world leading youth development and first team training facility, would be operational at the beginning of the 2013-14 season.
Given the unprecedented scope, investment and importance of the CFA, it is vital that the highest level of resource and focus is dedicated to it. At the same time, there must also be appropriate capability and support for the Club’s first team operations. Crucially, both facets must be underpinned by a common football philosophy which links the youngest academy boy to the most senior first team player in an increasingly competitive and ambitious first team squad.
Recognising the scale of the Club’s growing football operations, the Club has restructured in this area in order to better achieve its long term goals. Two specific, but interconnected roles have therefore been created.
Brian Marwood, as co-architect of the CFA project has chosen to take on the role of Managing Director of the City Football Academy with all associated international responsibilities and will be responsible for the recruitment, development, training and management of up to 400 players in Manchester and at other global training centres.
In an interlinked role, Txiki Berigiristain will join Manchester City FC as Director of Football. Txiki, a former footballer at Real Sociedad, FC Barcelona, Deportivo A Coruna, Urawa Reds and the Spanish national team, held the position of Director of Football at FC Barcelona in the period 2003-2010. His new role at Manchester City will see him take responsibility for supporting the first team manager, Roberto Mancini, in first team recruitment and operations.
Both new roles will report directly to Chief Executive Officer Ferran Soriano.
Speaking of the appointments, Chief Executive Officer Ferran Soriano said:
“Sustainability has always been central to Sheikh Mansour’s investment in Manchester City Football Club. The long term future of the football club is dependent upon our ability to recruit and develop young players all the way through to the first team squad. The focus must be on both Academy and First Team and the close coordination between them.
Given the scale and importance of this challenge, we want to commit our very best people to it. I am delighted that Brian Marwood will take leadership of the CFA initiative and I am equally very pleased to welcome an individual of Txiki Bergiristain’s calibre to the Club. I have no doubt that together, and in support of Roberto Mancini and the wider football club, they will be a formidable team. ”
Commenting on his new role, Brian Marwood said: “The Club’s new football operations structure is a hallmark of our hard work to date and the two leadership roles are a necessity borne of both success and ambition. Txiki and I have a shared philosophy when it comes to football operations and I very much look forward to the work that we will carry out together. The leadership of CFA allows me to take up an incredibly challenging role. We have a shared expectation that CFA will shape the footballing future of MCFC and as a result it is a role through which I feel I can make a major contribution to the Club.”
Echoing Brian’s thoughts, Txiki Begiristain said: “I am very pleased indeed to have been offered such an exciting opportunity. The progress and on field achievements at Manchester City are plain for all to see and I am honoured to have been asked to contribute to its future success. I am very much looking forward to working with Brian Marwood, Roberto Mancini and Ferran Soriano in continuing to build a football team and philosophy which will serve Manchester City well in the near and long term future.”
I have to say I'm quite happy about this, never liked Marwood being in charge of our signings
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