Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been rocked by the news of two key departures from his medical team. First-team doctor Jim Moxon is reportedly set to follow Gary O’Driscoll out the door and take up a role with Premier League rivals Brighton. Reports emerged on Tuesday indicating United’s head of medical services O’Driscoll would be leaving just 18 months into his role at Old Trafford.
According to The Telegraph, Moxon is ‘in line’ to join Brighton, who declined to comment on his potential arrival. He is poised to depart after spending two years in the job. Moxon worked with Liverpool previously while O’Driscoll was in a similar role at Arsenal before heading to the North West, but are now on their way out. Both O’Driscoll and Moxon will remain in their positions during a ‘transitional period’, while United search for their replacements to ensure minimal interruption to the medical support available at the club.
According to The Athletic, the timings of their exits are ‘coincidental’ and both are unrelated to the latest round of staff redundancies that United are planning.
O’Driscoll joined United from Arsenal in September 2023, and his arrival was considered an impressive acquisition at the time given how Arsenal had generally avoided long-term injuries and protected their key players such as Bukayo Saka, who has since suffered more injuries.
The 54-year-old had replaced Steve McNally, who left in December 2022, as their head of medicine at the club. Since his appointment, his department is one of the many that has undergone rapid changes under the guise of the club’s chief of football operations Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
His exit was regarded as a ‘surprise development’ as he had overseen significant changes to the structure of their medical team. But he has now decided to leave on his own accord.
Moxon, meanwhile, has opted to take up a new opportunity down south with the Seagulls. It is unclear when the senior doctor is expected to make the move.
It comes at a time when United’s squad has been plagued by injury problems. Leny Yoro is the latest player to be added to their lengthy list of absentees, along with Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo, Jonny Evans, Manuel Ugarte, Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton and Luke Shaw.
Amorim has been left without 10 first-team members for their Europa League tie against Real Sociedad, which could be a make-or-break game in deciding if they will participate in Europe next season. Losing two of his staff members in the midst of an injury crisis is far from ideal for the Portuguese coach, 40, who has been unable to field his strongest team together this season.
