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Manchester Evening News

‘It's b*******’ - Manchester United icon Nicky Butt reveals management attempts

The ex-Manchester United midfielder revealed his frustrations with the perceived plastic presentations that go on during appointment processes.

Butt was a part of the United academy and backroom staff for nine years post-retirement
Butt was a part of the United academy and backroom staff for nine years post-retirement(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Former Manchester United player Nicky Butt has admitted that he “felt sick” before being interviewed for management jobs at Aberdeen, Huddersfield and England Under-21s in recent years.

The 48-year-old has revealed his disconcertment at the perceived unnatural manner of the process, saying he “hated” the sit-downs and realised that the road into main management was not for him.


Butt has helped United’s youth sides in several roles since his retirement. He was eventually appointed head of the academy in 2016 before working under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as head of first-team development in 2019, prior to his club exit in March 2021.


READ MORE: United already have the blueprint to beat Liverpool

The former midfielder said he had gone for a number of jobs in the years since before quickly deciding against a career as a club boss. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Butt detailed his frustrations with the general managerial appointment processes that go on.

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He said: "I went to some interviews. England under-21 job, Aberdeen, Huddersfield. But I was 46 and realised I'd never done an interview in my life, I hated it.

"A lot of people who go for football interviews, it's b*******. You will have someone with a massive project on a screen but you can guarantee they haven't done it themselves. So I couldn't do it, I felt sick beforehand. I would rather sit like I am with you and have a chat over a coffee.

"I would rather talk about my philosophy, about bringing young players through. Even though it's not my philosophy at all, it's what I was taught, I'm just adding bits to it.

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"So I soon knew I was never going to get a job in football because I can't talk the way people want me to. I just talk how I think is right."

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