FORGOTTEN Manchester United “Class of ’92” star Chris Casper is now shining alongside his old pals at Salford City.
The former defender made just two appearances at United alongside team-mates and co-owners of the League One side Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, Phil and Gary.
GettyChris Casper joined his ‘Class of 92’ team-mates at Salford City[/caption]
Getty – ContributorCasper, in the middle of the back row, was a part of the Manchester United youth team that featured Nicky Butt, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and David Beckham[/caption]
The League Two club are part-owned by Giggs, Scholes, Butt and the Nevilles – who each own ten per cent.
Since their takeover in 2014, they have led the club from the lower reaches of non-league to being promoted to the EFL in 2019 – when David Beckham, another ’92 member, became a shareholder.
The team are known to recruit people they know in key positions such as Neil Wood – a former United youngster and under-23 coach who is Salford’s current manager.
And six and half years ago they added former team-mate Chris Casper as sporting director.
Casper was a promising defender, making a few appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson‘s side.
After a number of loan spells, Casper left the club permanently for Reading early in United’s 1998/99 Treble-winning season.
Sadly, he was forced to retire in 2000 after suffering a double leg fracture following a challenge from Cardiff’s Richard Carpenter.
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More than four years later, he secured undisclosed compensation in an out-of-court settlement with Carpenter.
Casper quickly turned his attention to coaching with spells with Team Bath, Bury, Bradford and Grimsby.
Now as sporting director at Salford, who are 20th in League Two, the club has enjoyed two promotions and two Wembley trips during his time at the club.
Explaining the role, Casper told the MEN: “In essence, the role is to oversee the football side of the club.
“That starts with the owners identifying what they are looking to achieve, how they are looking to achieve it, what the long-term vision is and how we are going to achieve it.
“You work with the owners, you identify the playing style, which influences the manager you hire, and you recruit the players who can fit into that philosophy.
“You are overseeing everything from a football perspective, recruitment, medical, sport science, etc.
“You take a lot of work away from the manager so he can focus on working with the players.
“So, dealing with agents and other parts of the club, they don’t have to worry about it.”