Former Arsenal head of medicine Gary O’Driscoll is set to leave Manchester United after just 18 months, reportedly deciding now is the time to step down.
Simon Austin reports for Training Ground Guru that Gary O’Driscoll is set to leave Manchester United after just 18 months, despite his appointment from Arsenal being regarded as a major coup back in 2023.
Austin reports that O’Driscoll has decided this is “the right time to step down”, with United privately insisting he’s not leaving because of the club’s current injury problems and rounds of redundancies.
Yet the report does point out that minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe highlighted United’s injury problems in his interview this week. Perhaps this is a case of jumping before you’re pushed.
At the time of writing, United are in double figures for injury absences. Lisandro Martinez is out for the rest of 2025, Amad Diallo is in a race to play again this season, and Luke Shaw and Mason Mount still seem to be a while off.
Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Harry Maguire all missed Sunday’s game against Arsenal, as did Altay Bayindir and Jonny Evans. Leny Yoro picked up a knock during the game and could miss Thursday’s match against Real Sociedad.
As dreadful as United have often been this season, their injury situation has admittedly made things even worse.
O’Driscoll spent many years at Arsenal, joining as a club doctor in 2009 and eventually becoming the head of medicine eight years later. He’ll remain with Manchester United for an interim period until they find a replacement.