Brentford have released a statement on the departure of Stephen Torpey, who will be joining Manchester United as their new Academy director.
Manchester United’s approach to youth development is no secret. It is something that defines the club and there has been a purposeful push to improving the setup in recent years.
That has been led by Academy director Nick Cox, who has received major plaudits for his work at Carrington over the last six years.
But it was confirmed earlier this summer that Cox would be moving on this season after being offered the technical director role at Everton.
Cox has stayed in his role at Old Trafford for the time being to help United as they search for his replacement and that has now been confirmed as Brentford’s Academy director Stephen Torpey.
Torpey has led major improvements in the Bees’ new-look Academy setup after his impressive work beforehand at Manchester City.
Brentford’s statement on Torpey departure speaks volumes
Brentford’s statement on Torpey’s departure highlights the scale of his impact on their Academy, describing how he reshaped its structure, philosophy, and pathway for young players.
For United, who pride themselves on developing talent, those achievements signal an exciting appointment. The qualities Brentford praised in Torpey point to a strong fit with United’s long-standing youth development tradition.
Brentford released the following statement: “Stephen Torpey will depart Brentford to become Manchester United’s new academy director.
“Having joined the Bees during the 2023/24 season, Torpey has been a key figure in shaping the Academy’s redevelopment, overseeing its return to Category Two status and the reintroduction of age groups from Under-9 to Under-16.
“He will remain at the club while serving his notice period. Torpey oversaw the introduction and embedding of a clear Academy purpose — to be the most caring and progressive academy in the world.
“This guiding principle has shaped the day-to-day culture across the programme, influencing recruitment, development, and retention of both players and staff.
“Everyone who has passed through the Academy during his tenure has engaged with and helped uphold that vision.
“He has also played a central role in the redevelopment of Brentford’s Academy since its relaunch in 2022. Under his leadership, the club regained Category Two status and reintroduced the Under-9 to Under-16 age groups, marking a major milestone in Brentford’s long-term player development strategy.
“Torpey played a key role in aligning the Academy with the existing B team structure, creating a seamless pathway that bridges the development journey between youth and senior football.
“His collaborative approach extended across departments, working closely with coaching, recruitment, player care, and the club’s communications and performance teams.”
Wilcox excited by Torpey appointment
Jason Wilcox was key to the appointment of Torpey, who will remain at Brentford during his notice period before switching to Old Trafford in the coming months.
The pair worked together in the Academy at Manchester City and Wilcox is confident that the new appointment is ‘outstanding’ for the club.
“After an extensive recruitment process, we are delighted to have appointed Stephen at such an exciting time for our Academy,” the United director of football said of the appointment.
“Stephen’s record of youth development is outstanding; throughout his career he has played a significant role in the development of some of the most talented players in the country.
“We will work closely together to ensure that the Academy continues to foster the right environment to nurture our young players individually while developing the best talent ready to excel in our first team.”
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