Major Restructuring of Manchester United’s Nutrition Department Ahead of New Campaign
Manchester United have completely overhauled their nutrition and culinary department as they prepare for the upcoming season, introducing several new professionals to reshape how the club supports its players’ dietary and performance needs.
This sweeping transformation follows the departures of two key staff members. Omar Meziane, who had been serving as the club’s first-team head chef, left in December to join McLaren’s Formula One operation. Meanwhile, Thomas Maynard, who held the position of first-team performance nutritionist, stepped down at the conclusion of last season.
To replace them and strengthen the department, United have brought in multiple new figures:
Will Carvalho has been named the club’s new Head Performance Chef. He arrives from Brighton & Hove Albion, where he held a similar role for over a decade. Carvalho brings a wealth of experience, having also worked in performance nutrition for Scottish Rugby, Gloucester Rugby, and Brazil’s women’s national football team.
Marcus Hannon takes over as Head of Sports Nutrition. He joins United from the Qatar Football Association, and is no stranger to the Premier League, having previously served in a senior nutrition role at Aston Villa between 2020 and 2022.
Filipe Sousa joins the staff as First-Team Nutritionist. The Portuguese specialist has built his career at clubs including Vitória SC, F.C. Famalicão, and FC Vizela, giving him a strong background in elite football environments.
In addition to these appointments, United are currently recruiting for two more roles to complete their revamped setup: a Senior Sous Chef and an Academy Nutritionist. These positions are expected to further enhance the club’s ability to cater to the dietary and physical demands of both senior and youth players.
The women’s teams have also seen updates to their nutrition support staff. Hanna Zouggari has taken up the role of Nutritionist for the Women’s First Team, while Rachel Fleck has been appointed as the Women’s Academy Performance Nutritionist.
According to the job listing for the Senior Sous Chef role, the position will involve supporting the Head Chef in managing day-to-day kitchen operations at United’s state-of-the-art Carrington training facility. The role emphasizes high culinary standards, deep knowledge of sports nutrition, innovation in meal planning, and strict food safety protocols — all essential in a high-performance sporting context.
As part of their pre-season schedule, Manchester United’s squad has returned to training at Carrington and will begin their friendly fixtures with a match against Leeds United in Stockholm on July 19.
