When newly appointed interim manager Michael Carrick reflected on Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Spurs, one particular moment stood out.

Carrick praised the detail behind a decisive set-piece routine, name-checking two figures many supporters might not expect to hear.

“Yeah Jonny [Evans] has had his eyes on set plays and Kaita [Hasegawa], the analyst.”

Evans is a familiar name.

Kaita Hasegawa, however, remains largely unknown outside Carrington.

So who exactly is the 27-year-old quietly shaping United’s tactical edge?

The man behind the data

Kaita Hasegawa is a first-team performance analyst specialising in tactical data and set-piece design.

He joined the club on 1 November 2022, arriving during a period of structural change behind the scenes.

His word focuses on opponent trends, delivery zones, defensive weaknesses and repetitive patterns – the fine margins that often decide tight matches.

While analysts rarely receive public credit, Carrick’s post-match acknowledgement signalled something significant: Hasegawa is not simply compiling reports.

He is influencing outcomes.

A seven-year apprenticeship at Everton

Before Old Trafford, Hasegawa spent seven years at Everton after joining in 2015.

He worked under managers including Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez, gaining invaluable experience in elite Premier League environments.

That grounding matters.

The Premier League’s physicality and tactical demands are unforgiving.

To survive and progress in an analysis department for seven years speaks to both competence and adaptability.

By the time United recruited him, he had already built a reputation internally as someone who understood both numbers and nuance.

Continuity through chaos

Hasegawa’s importance grew during managerial transition.

When Ruben Amorim arrived in late 2024, he brought specialist staff with him.

Yet Hasegawa was retained as a core member of the internal analysis team.

He became the domestic link between inherited data systems and new tactical philosophy.

Throughout 2025, he worked closely with assistant Carlos Fernandes, who drilled routines on the grass.

Hasegawa designed them in the background.

When Amorim and his staff departed in January 2026, many expected further restructuring.

Instead, Hasegawa stayed.

His retention provided stability at a time when United needed continuity. That decision now looks pivotal.

The Carrick era influence

Under Michael Carrick, Hasegawa’s role has visibly expanded.

United’s triumph over Spurs included a carefully rehearsed corner routine that exploited defensive positioning.

It was not improvised. It was studied, tested and implemented.

Carrick’s public praise was not accidental.

The numbers support the narrative.

United have scored 15 Premier League set-piece goals this season, averaging 8.0 goals per 100 set-pieces – the highest efficiency rate in the division.

Their corner conversion rate stands at 14.3%.

In modern football, that is not luck. It is preparation.

He now operates as a bridge between the data department and senior figures within the squad.

Experienced leaders like Jonny Evans translate analysis into communication on the pitch.

Carrick oversees implementation.

Hasegawa supplies the blueprint.

More than spreadsheets

What separates Kaita Hasegawa from many analysts is his dual qualification profile.

He holds Prozone Performance Analysis certifications Levels 1-3, but he is also FA Level 1 and Level 2 qualified in both football and futsal.

That coaching background allows him to understand drill mechanics, player movement and training practicality.

Data alone cannot improve a team. It must be teachable.

Hasegawa understands both theory and execution.

The modern Manchester United

The Red Devils’ evolution under Carrick has often been framed around visible changes – Benjamin Sesko’s late goals, Bruno Fernandes pushing higher, and improved midfield balance.

But modern elite clubs are driven just as much by unseen influences.

From recruitment data to set-piece analysts, marginal gains matter – and United’s improvement from dead-ball situations highlights that progress.

In that sense, Hasegawa’s rise symbolises a new generation behind the scenes: young, tactically sharp and comfortable in high-pressure environments.

Why it matters

Set-pieces account for roughly 30% of goals in elite football.

In tight games, especially against compact defensive sides, they often provide the breakthrough.

Against Tottenham, preparation delivered control.

Carrick’s decision to publicly acknowledge his analyst was revealing.

It suggested that success at United is becoming increasingly collaborative rather than personality-driven.

So who is Kaita Hasegawa?

He is the 27-year-old performance analyst quietly redefining how Manchester United approach marginal gains.

He is the architect behind routines that are turning corners into opportunities.

And judging by the numbers, his influence is only growing.