Andy Devaney
By now, we’ve all come to expect that Manchester United Football Club won’t just settle for tradition—they’re as keen on pushing the frontiers of technology as they are on nabbing silverware. And true to form, they’ve just renewed their long-term partnership with STATSports, the creators of the only FIFA-certified Apex 2.0 GPS performance tracker—because apparently, second-best doesn’t cut it at Carrington.
Under new boss Ruben Amorim, who’s rumoured to love data nearly as much as trophies, Manchester United will continue to harness the Apex 2.0 system to track player movement, training loads, and just about everything short of their Spotify playlists.
But there’s more to this than just strapping trackers to players like fitness-conscious cyborgs. The new agreement includes the installation of fixed infrastructure and Local Positioning Systems (LPS) at Carrington, Old Trafford, and Leigh Sports Village, turning these hallowed grounds into high-tech player-monitoring zones worthy of NASA.
“At Manchester United, we’re always looking to push the boundaries of player performance,” said Ed Leng, the club’s Head of Physical Performance. “Wearable trackers are a vital part of that process, and we’re grateful for STATSports’ continued support and partnership.
Their Apex 2.0 trackers will enable us to unlock deeper insights across all men’s and women’s players spanning all training environments, from academy to first team.
By expanding our fixed infrastructure at Carrington, Old Trafford and Leigh, we’ll enhance real-time tracking capabilities helping us to better prepare, develop, and protect our players.”
In other words, expect Amorim to know whether a player’s hamstring is twitchy before the lad even finishes his warm-up. It’s science meeting football—and it’s making no room for guesswork.
Sean O’Connor, Co-Founder of STATSports, sees this as more than just a deal—it’s a statement. “Manchester United are a benchmark for ambition and excellence.
This supplier partnership renewal is a testament to their belief in the value of high-performance and our role in delivering it. Apex 2.0 trackers enable United’s staff to obtain up-to-date accurate information in respect of player availability, individual development and team performance.
With the addition of fixed infrastructure across both training and matchday environments, we’re helping embed a world-class performance culture across every touchpoint.”
In short, the Red Devils aren’t just running faster—they’re getting smarter while they do it.
So while opponents may still argue about VAR, Manchester United will be a few steps ahead, knowing exactly how many sprints each player clocked, which muscle groups are at risk, and precisely when to ease off the gas.
And when it comes to fine margins in elite football, that kind of data might just be the difference between fourth place and glory.
