The winds of change continue to sweep through Old Trafford, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire owner of INEOS and now a significant stakeholder in Manchester United, has voiced sharp criticism over pivotal decisions made by previous club administrations. In an unfiltered interview with The Times , Ratcliffe dissected what he believes were glaring missteps that derailed the club’s trajectory after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. From replacing the legendary Scot with David Moyes to appointing Ed Woodward as CEO, Ratcliffe pulled no punches in his assessment of the past decade.
At the heart of Ratcliffe’s critique is the belief that Manchester United, often hailed as one of the world’s most prestigious football clubs, failed to uphold its own standards during this period. His remarks not only shed light on managerial choices but also underscore a broader dissatisfaction with how the club was governed under the Glazer family’s ownership—a regime Ratcliffe himself stepped into earlier this year with promises of revitalization.
When Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement in 2013, it marked the end of an era defined by unparalleled success. Under Ferguson’s leadership, Manchester United had clinched 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies, establishing themselves as a dominant force in global football. The task of finding his successor was always going to be monumental, yet Ratcliffe argues that the decision to appoint David Moyes was a critical error.
“Look, I like David Moyes, and I think he’s a really good manager,” Ratcliffe began, acknowledging Moyes’ qualities. However, he quickly followed up with a sobering observation: “To go from Sir Alex Ferguson to Moyes is not where I would have gone.” Ratcliffe pointed out that Moyes lacked both silverware and experience managing elite players—the kind who populate the dressing rooms of top-tier clubs like Manchester United.
“He’s not necessarily got the personality to stand in front of them all,” Ratcliffe added, suggesting that Moyes might have struggled to command respect from star-studded squads accustomed to winning. This, according to Ratcliffe, set the stage for instability at a club that prides itself on consistency and excellence. By contrast, he noted that European giants such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or Barcelona rarely make such miscalculations when hiring coaches, emphasizing their ability to remain perennial contenders.
While much of the focus post-Ferguson has centered on managerial appointments, Ratcliffe extended his critique to another key figure in the club’s recent history: Ed Woodward. As CEO from 2012 to 2022, Woodward oversaw operations during some of the darkest days for Manchester United fans. Ratcliffe minced no words in describing Woodward’s tenure as unacceptable compared to the benchmarks set by other elite clubs.
“Those two know what’s going on. They’re there every day, and the management at their clubs are on a short leash,” Ratcliffe said, referring to figures like Crystal Palace’s Steve Parish and Tottenham Hotspur’s Daniel Levy, whom he admires for their hands-on approach. He lamented that the Glazers, unlike these owners, were seemingly disengaged from the finer details of running a football club.
For Ratcliffe, the failure to recruit top-tier executives mirrored the misstep in choosing Moyes as manager. “They should have found the best chief executive in the world, and the best coach in the world, because Manchester United is the best club in the world,” he declared. Instead, he argued, the club ended up with subpar leadership across the board—an outcome he described as symptomatic of poor governance.
One recurring theme in Ratcliffe’s comments is his admiration for how clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich operate. These institutions, he noted, maintain a level of stability and competitiveness that Manchester United has sorely lacked in recent years. “They don’t do that,” Ratcliffe remarked, pointing out that those clubs avoid prolonged periods of mediocrity. For him, the disparity lies not just in resources but in mindset and execution.
This perspective reflects Ratcliffe’s ambition to restore Manchester United to its former glory. Since acquiring a controlling stake in the club, he has emphasized the importance of aligning organizational culture with the expectations of its passionate fanbase. “United fans deserve the best,” he asserted, signaling his intent to prioritize long-term success over quick fixes.
As Ratcliffe seeks to steer Manchester Union onto a brighter path, all eyes are on current manager Ruben Amorim. Appointed amid high hopes, Amorim faces the daunting challenge of living up to Ratcliffe’s exacting standards. With the team set to face Leicester City in their next league fixture, the pressure is mounting. A string of disappointing results could reignite scrutiny over whether Ratcliffe’s vision is being effectively implemented on the pitch.
Despite these challenges, Ratcliffe remains steadfast in his belief that Manchester United can reclaim its status among Europe’s elite. His willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about the club’s past suggests a determination to learn from mistakes rather than repeat them. Whether his strategies will bear fruit remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Ratcliffe is not content to let history repeat itself.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s candid reflections serve as both a reckoning and a rallying cry for Manchester United. By holding a mirror to the club’s recent failures, he has laid bare the consequences of complacency and poor decision-making. At the same time, his words convey a sense of urgency and purpose—a recognition that restoring Manchester United’s greatness requires nothing less than excellence at every level.
For fans weary of false dawns and broken promises, Ratcliffe’s intervention offers a glimmer of hope. If his vision translates into action, the red half of Manchester may once again rise to dominate English and European football. But as Ratcliffe himself acknowledges, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. Only time will tell if his leadership can usher in a new golden age for one of football’s most storied institutions.
