Rio Ferdinand has now offered his two cents on what Jason Wilcox and Sir Jim Ratcliffe did at Manchester United amid the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
The 46-year-old ex-TNT Sports pundit spoke about former teammate Jason Wilcox, who is director of football at Manchester United, on his latest podcast episode.
Wilcox has been a key figure for the Ineos regime at Old Trafford after United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe brought him to the Premier League club from Southampton.
The former Southampton director of football was first appointed technical director at the Red Devils in 2024 before he saw a strategic change in roles under Ineos.
Dan Ashworth’s exit from United in December 2024 saw Wilcox ascend to the role of sporting director before another key personnel change led to his current position.
Key Ineos figure Sir Dave Brailsford stepped back from his day-to-day duties at United in the summer and Wilcox assumed the position of director of football.
What Rio Ferdinand said about Man Utd director of football Jason Wilcox is a real eye-opener
Jason Wilcox has become an important behind-the-scenes figure for Ruben Amorim by supporting the Manchester United manager with landing key transfer targets.
The 54-year-old Red Devils director of football recently did an interview with Manchester United’s official website and threw his backing behind Ruben Amorim.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand praised Wilcox for outlining the clear-cut plans that Ineos have in mind for the Premier League club.
“Yeah, well, I know Jason Wilcox,” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“Obviously, I played with him at Leeds. And [a] great guy, first and foremost.”
The 46-year-old United legend added: “Honest as they come, straight as you like, which is great.
“But he’s got a clear, clear plan and idea of how he sees things progressing at Manchester United.
“And I think they’re going to be like, not stubborn is probably the wrong word, but they’re going to be like, ‘This is what we’re doing.’
“And very little is going to change in that aspect. And a result or two here or there isn’t going to change their approach.”
Rio Ferdinand reacts to Jason Wilcox and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s major call at Man Utd
Sir Jim Ratcliffe supported Ruben Amorim in public during the 2025-26 Premier League season after the United manager came under immense pressure.
Amorim’s future at United had even been plunged into doubt amid the mounting speculation over whether or not Ineos would axe him from the Premier League club.
Ferdinand has now insisted that both Wilcox and Ratcliffe, as well as Ineos, have shown their hard-line position on backing Amorim at the Red Devils.
The former United defender continued: “And I think they’ve shown their true colours in that respect, because when United have dipped in a bit of form, a lot of noise has been coming around the club and the manager’s job, etc.
“And they were put their flag in the sand and said, ‘Listen, this is what we’re doing. This is what we’re…’ And I agree with you [his co-host].
“So, Jim Ratcliffe’s comments at that time, I think in time, it could go down as a moment where you go, that was probably the time where things kind of change and look like every player had to get behind [Amorim].”
United have won five of their opening 10 Premier League matches in the current season and the Red Devils are currently eighth in the table under Amorim.
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