Burnley have confirmed the departure of coach King to Manchester United, with the 27-year-old former academy player joining the Premier League side's backroom staff. He will take up a role as an assistant first-team goalkeeping coach at Old Trafford.
King had been working at Burnley in various coaching capacities since 2018, having first come through the club's academy as a player. He represented England up to Under-16 level before his playing career was cut short by injury at the age of 21, leading to spells with non-league sides Barnoldswick Town, Chester and Clitheroe.
King returned to the club in a coaching capacity six years ago, working at the Gawthorpe training ground alongside fellow goalkeeping coach Kersten Kuhl. His progression through the club's system made him a familiar figure within the setup, a journey that has now led him to one of the country's biggest clubs.
The move is part of ongoing changes to head coach Nicky Hayen's backroom team. It follows the August departure of set-piece coach Pal Fjelde to Aston Villa. Hayen had previously indicated the club would seek a replacement for Fjelde, but no appointment has yet been announced. New staff members Johan van Rumst and Matthias Bernaert joined following Hayen's own arrival in July.
The shift comes as Burnley look to improve their Championship position, currently sitting 24th with just four points from their opening eight games. The Clarets have conceded 15 goals in that time, an average of 1.9 per game, while scoring only 6. Their recent form shows just one win in their last five league matches, underlining the defensive challenges the team faces. The current standings show the scale of the challenge facing the Clarets this season.
King will work under Craig Mawson, who himself made the move from Burnley to Manchester United in 2020. He becomes part of Michael Carrick's coaching staff, continuing a recent trend of talent moving between the two clubs' technical departments.
Head coach Nicky Hayen addressed the earlier backroom change, stating, "Burnley would look to replace Fjelde and bring in a new member of the team, but as of yet no replacement has been announced." The club's coaching structure still includes figures like Mike Jackson, Henrik Jensen and Jack Cork supporting Hayen, with Kuhl remaining in his goalkeeping role. Burnley's full backroom team is listed on the official squad page.
Background and full detail: Burnley Express
