INEOS modernizes Manchester United’s recruitment department with key appointments

Manchester United’s recruitment operation looks nothing like it did two years ago. Since INEOS assumed control of the club’s football activities in July 2024, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s group has methodically dismantled the old structure and replaced it with something that looks more like a corporate boardroom than a traditional football backroom.

The people behind the pivot

The centerpiece of the new structure is Christopher Vivell, who holds the title of Director of Recruitment. Vivell came in as an interim appointment during the summer of 2024 and was confirmed in the role permanently in February 2025, a timeline that suggests INEOS wanted to see how he operated before making it official.

Kyle Macaulay adds genuine pedigree to the scouting side. He joined as Head of Senior Scouting in January 2026, bringing a career that ran through Brighton, Chelsea, and West Ham.

Then there is Michael Sansoni, arguably the most unconventional hire of the group. Sansoni was appointed Director of Data in 2025 after spending eleven years with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team. INEOS, which also owns the Mercedes F1 team through Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s broader sports portfolio, is essentially cross-pollinating its analytical culture into Old Trafford’s football department.

What this structure is actually trying to fix

The committee-style framework INEOS is building is designed to break the cycle of manager-driven recruitment, where each new head coach arrived with a different wish list and a fresh set of relationships with agents. In this model, the Director of Recruitment, the Head of Senior Scouting, and the Director of Data all operate with some independence from the coaching staff. Players are identified against a profile that the club defines at an organizational level, not just against whatever formation the current manager prefers.

What investors and supporters should watch

The appointments signal that INEOS is building for a multi-year arc. Vivell’s permanent confirmation after an interim period, Macaulay joining at the start of 2026, and Sansoni embedded in the data infrastructure all point to a group that is layering in capability gradually rather than overhauling everything at once.

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