Avram Glazer, the owner of Manchester United, was seen meeting with the club’s former executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, ahead of United’s FA Cup semi-final match against Coventry. The Glazers had flown to the UK for the game, and Avram was also pictured with heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora. Woodward, who left the club in 2022, remains a friend of the Glazer family and helped them buy United initially. Woodward has since taken on a new role with an artificial intelligence firm and joined the Board of Trustees for the Bloomsbury Football Foundation.
The Glazers have recently sold a 27.7% stake in United to Sir Jim Ratcliffe for £1.3 billion, which has resulted in Ratcliffe taking full control of football operations at the club. Ratcliffe has already made several changes, including hiring Omar Berrada as the new CEO and Jason Wilcox as the technical director. Dan Ashworth is expected to become United’s director of football, pending negotiations with Newcastle. Ratcliffe is also planning to cut a significant number of staff at the club to streamline operations and reduce costs, with a focus on learning from successful clubs like City and Liverpool.
New Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is taking a more hands-on approach to the running of the club, with a focus on competitiveness and learning from successful rivals like City and Liverpool. Ratcliffe has expressed a desire to knock United’s rivals off their perch and is committed to creating a driven and elite environment within the club. Ratcliffe’s changes have seen the appointment of new executives and a potential restructuring of the club’s staff. The Glazers have taken a back seat in the day-to-day operations of the club following the sale of the stake to Ratcliffe.
The meeting between Avram Glazer and Ed Woodward at a luxury London hotel indicates a continued relationship between the two despite Woodward’s departure from United. The Glazers’ decision to sell a stake in the club to Sir Jim Ratcliffe represents a shift in ownership and a new direction for the club’s operations. Ratcliffe’s focus on competitiveness and learning from successful clubs like City and Liverpool suggests a strategic approach to improving United’s performance. The potential reorganization of staff and appointments of new executives signal a period of change and transition for the club under Ratcliffe’s ownership.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s takeover of football operations at Manchester United marks a significant shift in the club’s ownership and management structure. Ratcliffe’s commitment to competitiveness and learning from successful clubs like City and Liverpool indicates a strategic approach to improving United’s performance. The appointment of new executives and a potential reorganization of staff suggest a period of change and transition for the club. The meeting between Avram Glazer and Ed Woodward underscores the continued relationship between the two, despite Woodward’s departure from United. Overall, these developments signal a new era for Manchester United under Ratcliffe’s ownership.
