Manchester United: Player Care, Key to Off-Field Success

Player Care: Beyond the Playing Field

Every day, Manchester United players head to the training facilities on Birch Road. After greeting fans and getting past the access barriers, they enter the complex. Once inside, in the “players’ corridor”, there is an office with a crucial purpose: player care. This department is responsible for ensuring that each team member has everything they need off the field so they can perform at their best on it. These departments are not exclusive to United; the Premier League is investing in them to ensure that its players have everything they need to reach their best level. The objective is clear: that the players leave their problems at the door and train with a clear mind, ready to focus on football.

What is Player Care?

While the coach focuses on what happens on the training ground, the player care department takes care of the rest. From personal matters to relocation issues, this team takes care of everything that may affect a player outside the football field.

It’s based on the person more than the player. It’s everything that affects a player that isn’t football or medical. We are trying to be that resource where they can eliminate the stress of life to focus on football.

Hugo Scheckter, expert in player care

Hugo Scheckter, with experience at clubs like West Ham and Brentford, founded the Player Care Group. His work includes helping players find homes, choose schools for their children, manage taxes, and get tickets to matches. Sometimes, the job involves dealing with emergencies such as car accidents or robberies. Other times, the problems are more unusual. Scheckter recounts the anecdote of a player who asked him to scare away a bird that was scaring his girlfriend. Although the solution was simple, the problem, which affected the player’s rest and well-being, demonstrated the importance of these services.

Man United striker Benjamin Sesko arrives at Carrington for training. The player’s care representatives are the first thing players see upon arrival, meaning they can address issues promptly before heading to practice.

Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

“The Canaries in the Coal Mine”

Clubs are taking player care increasingly seriously in pursuit of competitive advantages. The architectural firm Foster and Partners, responsible for the renovation of Carrington, placed the player care office in a prominent location. A high-level informant from a Premier League club explains that the player care team is often the first to detect problems. These teams know the players’ lives outside of football much better than the coach, and both aspects are interrelated. Investment in player care varies by club. The effectiveness of the department depends on how the coach and his staff value it. Some coaches may be indifferent to what happens off the field, while others take a more holistic approach. The inclusion of the player care team in performance meetings that include other key department heads offers clear benefits. By knowing aspects such as a player’s diet, fitness, and personal life, the team can offer more comprehensive support. With football becoming increasingly globalized, player care teams help new players adapt quickly to the country. It is not unusual for departments to contact their counterparts at rival clubs, especially if they have players of the same nationality, in order to create a support network for the players’ families.

1:12 Is Manchester United getting smarter with their transfers? Mark Ogden explains why there is optimism around Manchester United’s transfer strategy after rejecting the chance to sign Roméo Lavia from Chelsea.The role of the player care team often extends beyond the players themselves. It is crucial to provide purpose and direction to partners and families, as their well-being affects that of the player. The goal is to keep the players happy, but without pampering them excessively. The aim is to strike a balance so that players can focus on training and matches.

Man United’s revamped Carrington training ground ensures that player care is the first resource seen when they arrive to train or meet.Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty ImagesSometimes, the player care team is the center of attention. After a streak of bad results, West Ham used baby photos of the players to motivate them, which resulted in a victory. The ultimate goal is always the same, whether it’s solving punctuality problems, dealing with the pressures of the game, or with a bird that won’t stop hitting the window.