Man Utd physio leaves after 11 years to 'prioritise family'
Picot joined United in 2010
Written by Simon Austin — May 28, 2021
PHYSIO Jonny Picot is leaving Manchester United after 11 years because ”lockdown made me realise how important it is to prioritise family and lifestyle.”
Picot started as a part-time physio at United's Academy in 2010 and progressed to work with the youth and reserve teams and then, in June 2017, for the first team.
He announced he was leaving full-time football on LinkedIn, in a post that was reminiscent of that of Chris Rush earlier this year. In January, Rush announced he was stepping down as Blackburn’s Head of Performance after 15 years because “the sacrifice of the family is far too great.”
Picot wrote: “Like many, lockdown made me realise how important it is to prioritise family and lifestyle. So I made the incredibly difficult decision late last year to leave the club of which I have, and will continue to be a lifelong fan of, and am so passionate about, at the end of this season.
“The sacrifices I made had an impact on my social and family life and I have spent very little time at home over the last 10 years. I am lucky I have a very patient and understanding wife who fully supported my career decisions allowing me to follow my dream and work in the environment of professional sport.”
Picot said he would be moving back to his home island of Jersey, “which offers a completely different lifestyle for my two young sons.”
He will be Head Physio at the £9m Strive Health Club and Academy on the island. The new facility for the development of youth and elite athletes will be used by the British and Irish Lions for their training camp ahead of their tour of South Africa this summer.
Picot also paid tribute to the staff and players he had worked with at Manchester United.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me through my journey as a physiotherapist, especially those most recently at Manchester United in the Academy and first team,” he said.
“The support and encouragement have driven me to achieve something I only could have dreamt of, and this is now the platform for me to push on and continue to help others achieve great things.
“The experience I have had over the last 20 years in both rugby and football will be unforgettable - something I will remember and be proud of for the rest of my life.
“I have been privileged to work alongside some of the most committed, dedicated, and hardworking people who make everything happen.
“Most of their work goes on behind the scenes, often unrecognised. The long working hours, weekends away from home both in the UK and abroad are necessary for teams to achieve the highest level of performance and success possible.”
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