The Sheffield Wednesday boss, Steve Bruce, is set to add Tony Strudwick to his Hillsborough backroom team, according to The Star.
And here are five things those of an Owls persuasion should know about their side’s potential new recruit…
Who is Strudwick?
Educated at Loughborough University and Liverpool John Moores, where he gained a doctorate in philosophy and physiology, Strudwick went on to work for Coventry City, The Football Association, West Ham United and Blackburn Rovers, before being head-hunted by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
He spent seven years as United’s first-team coach but became head of athletic development, working predominantly with the Red Devils’ youth-team players, under Louis van Gaal’s management.
Having also been part of England’s set-up at the 2014 World Cup, Strudwick finally left Old Trafford in May 2018, after 11 years of service, and was swiftly appointed head of performance by Wales, working under his former Manchester United colleague, Ryan Giggs.
What will his role be a Sheffield Wednesday?
According to The Star, Strudwick will become Wednesday’s new head of sports science and medicine, combining his role with Wales, as part of Bruce’s quest to eliminate the Owls’ long-running injury issues.
Training Ground Guru reports that Strudwick already lives in Sheffield.
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The former Manchester United coach, Rene Meulensteen, told Training Ground Guru…
“Tony was instrumental to the success we (Manchester United) achieved during that period (2007 to 2013) and deserves a huge amount of credit.
“He is a top, top professional and one of the best in his field in the world. As anyone who knows him will tell you, he is also a great person and helped achieve the great harmony we had as a staff under Sir Alex.”
He’s not lacking in passion…
According to The Daily Mail, it was Strudwick who caused damage to United’s Wembley changing room after the 2011 FA Cup semi-final defeat against Manchester City, having ‘kicked out in anger’ amid a post-match ‘fracas’.
The newspaper claims Strudwick was also involved in the ‘furious bust-up between’ United players and Chelsea groundstaff when the two teams met at Stamford Bridge three years earlier.
He still has friends in high places…
Although many of those from the Ferguson-era have now left Old Trafford, two of Strudwick’s long-term allies remain in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick, the Red Devils’ manager and first-team coach, respectively.
According to The Guardian, Strudwick worked closely with Solskjaer in his early United career, as the pair tried in vain to prevent the Norwegian’s retirement from playing, while The Manchester Evening News claims that he remains ‘close’ with Carrick, whom he first encountered at West Ham.
Carrick told the latter publication that the potential Owls appointment is ‘always giving banter’.
Could Wednesday perhaps receive a favour or two in the summer transfer window?
