Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s tenure at Manchester United, beginning with a minority takeover announced on Christmas Eve 2023, has been a whirlwind of changes, cost-cutting measures, and controversial decisions. His initial pronouncements focused on investment, pledging £245 million to Old Trafford and bringing in key personnel like Omar Berrada from Manchester City as CEO. The £1 billion takeover finalized in February 2024 signaled a new era, with Ratcliffe quickly asserting his authority, reshaping the board, and implementing his vision for the club. This included banning specific words like “awesome” and “lukewarm cappuccino,” a seemingly bizarre move indicative of a broader cultural shift he sought to instill.
However, Ratcliffe’s initial promise of investment and revitalization quickly morphed into a regime of austerity and upheaval. Senior staff perks were revoked, credit cards and private cars cancelled, and redundancies offered with a mere week’s notice for employees to decide. Travel budgets were slashed, impacting even the FA Cup final, where staff were forced to pay for their own transport and received only one ticket each. The atmosphere at Carrington, the club’s training ground, reportedly turned toxic, fueled by Ratcliffe’s critical emails and a demanding, cost-conscious approach. While work finally commenced on the leaking Old Trafford roof, the club’s on-field performance suffered, culminating in their worst-ever Premier League finish, eighth place.
Despite the FA Cup triumph against Manchester City, a victory many predicted wouldn’t save Erik ten Hag’s job, the summer of 2024 saw a continued churn in personnel. A £50 million upgrade to Carrington was announced alongside a strict “back to work” policy, requiring staff to return to the office. Ten Hag, surprisingly, signed a contract extension, but his coaching staff was significantly overhauled. New appointments were made, including Dan Ashworth as sporting director after a protracted negotiation with Newcastle, and Christopher Vivell in a short-term recruitment role. However, Ratcliffe’s controversial comments regarding the women’s team and drastic staff cuts, including long-serving and popular figures, further fueled discontent.
The summer transfer window witnessed a £199 million outlay on players, yet the cost-cutting continued relentlessly. Matchday staff lunchboxes were scrapped, and even Sir Alex Ferguson’s ambassadorial salary was terminated. The “back to work” policy proved costly, requiring the conversion of hospitality suites into temporary offices, and the annual staff Christmas party was cancelled. On the pitch, the team’s performance remained lackluster, leading to Ten Hag’s dismissal in October, a decision costing the club £15 million. Ruben Amorim was swiftly appointed as his replacement, but the instability continued with further dismissals, including Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Internal conflict and blame games erupted amongst United’s leadership over the summer transfer strategy and the handling of Ten Hag’s situation. Ratcliffe’s assessment of the club as “mediocre” and “still in the last century” did little to appease growing fan discontent. This discontent intensified with ticket price hikes, the removal of concessions for OAPs and children, and the revelation that Ratcliffe planned to halve the funding for the Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association. The negative publicity continued with the sacking of Dan Ashworth after just five months, the replacement of staff Christmas bonuses with meager vouchers, and reports of a mice infestation at Old Trafford, further tarnishing the club’s image.
In just a year, Ratcliffe’s reign transformed Manchester United. While some infrastructure improvements were initiated, his tenure was largely defined by cost-cutting, staff upheaval, and controversial decisions. Despite significant spending on players, on-field performance remained disappointing, leading to managerial changes and internal discord. The club’s reputation suffered, with fan protests, negative media coverage, and a growing sense of unease surrounding the direction Ratcliffe was taking one of the world’s most iconic football clubs. His focus on austerity and control, coupled with insensitive comments and actions, created a turbulent atmosphere that overshadowed any positive developments. The future of Manchester United under Ratcliffe’s leadership remains uncertain, but the first year suggests a difficult road ahead.
