Introduction
Dan Ashworth is an English football executive who is best known for his work in player development, football strategy and sporting leadership. He has held senior positions at the Football Association (FA), West Bromwich Albion, Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United and Manchester United.
As of August 2026, Dan Ashworth is the FA’s Chief Football Officer. He is the first person to hold the newly created position and is responsible for leading the organisation’s high-performance strategy, with strategic oversight across England’s men’s and women’s teams. He is also helping oversee the redevelopment of St George’s Park as England prepares for UEFA Euro 2028.
For readers looking for clear and reliable information about Ashworth, his career is especially interesting because he has worked at both club and international levels. His experience includes football development, talent pathways, coaching structures and senior sporting management.
Who Is Dan Ashworth?
Dan Ashworth is a football executive rather than a football manager or current professional player.
His career has focused mainly on building strong football systems. He has worked on youth development, recruitment, coaching pathways and long-term sporting plans.
One of his most important periods came during his first spell at the FA. He joined the organisation from West Bromwich Albion in 2013 and later became its technical director. During this period, he was closely involved in the development of England DNA, a framework designed to give England teams a clear football identity and approach to player development.
His career later moved into the Premier League, where he worked at Brighton and Newcastle before joining Manchester United.
Today, his role has taken him back to the FA, where his responsibilities are wider than those of a traditional club sporting director.
Dan Ashworth’s Early Career
Ashworth’s route into senior football leadership did not begin in a boardroom.
He had an early connection with football as a player and later moved into coaching and football development. His early career included work with youth players, which helped him build experience in identifying and developing talent.
He worked at Peterborough United and Cambridge United before joining West Bromwich Albion.
At West Brom, Ashworth developed his reputation as someone who understood the importance of youth development and long-term planning. His experience there eventually helped him move into one of the most important development roles in English football.
For readers interested in football careers and professional development, resources such as football and career writing can also provide useful related reading.
Dan Ashworth at the Football Association
Ashworth joined the FA in 2013 as director of elite development and later became technical director.
His job involved helping improve England’s football structure and supporting the development of players and coaches.
One major project associated with his work was England DNA. The FA described the programme as a clear vision for England teams and players. It aimed to create a shared identity across the national teams and encourage a consistent approach to football development.
This period became an important part of Ashworth’s professional reputation.
The FA’s youth teams enjoyed notable success during 2017. England’s men’s under-20 team won the FIFA U20 World Cup, the under-17 team won the FIFA U17 World Cup and the under-19 team won the UEFA European Championship.
Ashworth was part of the FA leadership during this period of strong youth development.
Moving Into Premier League Football
After leaving the FA, Ashworth moved into club football.
He joined Brighton & Hove Albion as technical director. The move gave him an opportunity to apply his ideas about player development and football structure within a Premier League club.
His work at Brighton strengthened his reputation as a sporting executive who focused on long-term planning rather than only short-term results.
He later joined Newcastle United as sporting director in 2022.
At Newcastle, his role involved major football decisions, including recruitment and the wider sporting structure of the club.
His time at Newcastle eventually came to an end in 2024. The club announced that he had entered gardening leave after deciding to leave his position. Newcastle and Manchester United later reached an agreement over his release from his contractual obligations.
Dan Ashworth at Manchester United
Ashworth joined Manchester United as sporting director on 1 July 2024.
The appointment made him part of a new football leadership structure at one of the world’s most recognised football clubs.
However, his time at Manchester United was short.
Manchester United confirmed on 8 December 2024 that Ashworth had left the club by mutual agreement.
His short tenure became one of the most discussed parts of his recent career. However, it is important to separate confirmed facts from speculation about the reasons behind his departure.
The key confirmed fact is that he spent around five months in the Manchester United sporting director position before leaving.
Dan Ashworth Returns to the FA
In May 2025, Ashworth made a major return to the organisation where he had previously worked.
The FA appointed him as its first Chief Football Officer. The position was newly created and gave Ashworth a broad responsibility across English football’s high-performance structure.
The FA says Ashworth leads its high-performance strategy and has strategic oversight across the England men’s and women’s teams.
His responsibilities also include the regeneration of St George’s Park.
This return is significant because Ashworth is now working at a national level again, rather than being responsible for only one club.
What Does Dan Ashworth Do Now?
As Chief Football Officer, Ashworth has a broad role.
His current responsibilities include:
- Leading the FA’s high-performance strategy.
- Providing strategic oversight across England’s men’s and women’s teams.
- Supporting long-term football systems.
- Helping develop more homegrown coaches.
- Working on the future of St George’s Park.
- Supporting England’s wider football ambitions ahead of Euro 2028.
The FA’s current management information confirms Ashworth remains its Chief Football Officer in 2026.
His work also includes supporting the development of elite coaches. In February 2026, the FA appointed Kevin Thelwell as Elite Coach Developer, with Thelwell reporting to Ashworth. The role focuses on helping develop high-level homegrown coaches.
This shows that Ashworth’s current work is not limited to the senior England teams. It also covers the wider pipeline of coaches and football professionals.
Dan Ashworth and St George’s Park
St George’s Park is an important part of Ashworth’s current role.
The national football centre is being upgraded as part of the FA’s long-term plans. The organisation has said Ashworth is overseeing the regeneration of the site and its performance facilities.
In April 2026, the FA Board discussed proposed improvements to St George’s Park, with Ashworth and the site’s general manager presenting an update. The Board approved the proposed improvements.
This makes St George’s Park one of the key areas to watch as Ashworth continues in his role.
His Role in Women’s Football
Ashworth’s responsibilities also extend to England’s women’s teams.
The FA’s current structure places the women’s technical directorate within the wider high-performance system led by Ashworth.
In December 2025, the FA appointed Gavin Step as women’s technical director. The FA confirmed that Step works under Ashworth and is responsible for technical strategy, player development, talent pathways and performance support for England’s women’s national teams.
This is an important part of understanding Ashworth’s current position because his job covers both men’s and women’s football.
Dan Ashworth and Homegrown Coaches
Developing coaches is another important part of Ashworth’s current work.
The FA has stated that it wants to create a stronger pipeline of homegrown coaches who can progress to the highest levels of football.
In February 2026, Kevin Thelwell was appointed Elite Coach Developer and began reporting to Ashworth. The role was created to support elite homegrown coaches and help them develop their careers.
This connects closely with the philosophy that has followed Ashworth throughout his career: building systems that can produce better players and coaches over the long term.
For people interested in football, sport and professional development, more football-focused articles and career resources can provide additional reading.
Dan Ashworth’s Career in Simple Terms
Ashworth’s career can be understood through five major stages:
Youth development: He began building experience around player development and academy football.
West Bromwich Albion: He moved into senior football leadership and developed his reputation.
The FA: He helped shape England’s long-term football development strategy and England DNA.
Premier League clubs: He worked as a technical or sporting director at Brighton, Newcastle and Manchester United.
FA return: He came back to the FA in 2025 as its first Chief Football Officer.
This path makes Ashworth different from a traditional football manager. His main work has been about building structures, supporting talent and creating long-term football strategies.
What Is Dan Ashworth Known For?
Dan Ashworth is best known for four areas:
- Football development — His career has strong links to academy and player development.
- England DNA — He was involved in creating the FA’s framework for England’s football identity.
- Sporting leadership — He has held senior football roles at several major clubs.
- High-performance strategy — His current FA role focuses on the long-term performance of England’s national teams and the wider football system.
Final Thoughts
Dan Ashworth has built a career around one central idea: improving football structures for the long term.
His journey from youth development and club football to senior positions at the FA, Brighton, Newcastle and Manchester United has given him experience in different parts of the game.
His Manchester United spell ended quickly, but his return to the FA created a new chapter. As the organisation’s first Chief Football Officer, he now has responsibility for a much wider football strategy.
As of August 2026, Ashworth remains Chief Football Officer at the FA. His work includes England’s men’s and women’s teams, high-performance strategy, coach development and the future development of St George’s Park.
For readers searching for the latest information about Dan Ashworth, this current FA position is the most important fact to remember.
