Season Preview 20in20 - Man United

20 of 20 - Man U/United/Red Devils

Author

nick lochner
August 14, 2023

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2022/23 Finish - 3rd Place, Will play in Champions League

Frustration. Watching their cross-town rival win the “treble”, finishing second in the FA Cup, drama with Christiano Rinaldo, owners that cause nothing but controversy, a manager that has yet to win people over. That describes United’s last several years. Not many clubs would consider a 3rd place finish and FA cup final a disappointment, but that’s what you get with Title’s or bust expectations. It will be another disappointing season if United finishes without a cup. They have the talent to win, but will it be enough.

The Club

Located in Old Trafford, Manchester

Old Trafford, 77,000 capacity

Rough estimates

$850M Annual Revenue

$230M Player Payroll

History on the Pitch

  • 20 Titles (the most), last in 2013

  • 12 FA Cups

  • 4 Europe Cups

Ownership

Malcolm Glazer bought into MU in 2003 at 15%, to 30% in 2004 and then 57% and again to 75% in 2005. He too MU off the London Stock Exchange and his ownership to 98%. The final purchase price of the club totaled over $1B. Much of the money came from loans with an annual payment of over $75M per year. This level of debt did not sit well with the MU fanbase. A group of wealthy MU fans, “The Red Knights” put in a $1.2B offer for the club declined by Glazer. In 2012, Glazer IPOd the club on the NYSE at $14/share. Today it trades around $23/share. In 2021, Joel Glazer, Chairman, played a major role in the creation of a Super Leage. When the Super League fell apart, Glazer apologized to the fans and said, “he got it wrong”. There continues to be distrust from the fanbase on ownership. Lack of investment in Old Trafford, improving the squad and appointing a permanent manager all while the Glazers continue to attach debt to the club are listed as reasons for the discontent.

Sponsorship

Biggest Rival - Manchester City - Manchester Derby

  • Separated by 4 miles, the size and success of both clubs brings on this heated rivalry each year.

  • Maybe you remember this Commercial - “Born Into It”

  • With all the success lately for City, they still are behind United in the win column. In 190 matches, United has 78W 59L 53D.

  • Most recently, Man U lost to City 1-2 to win the FA Cup Final in 2023.

  • Liverpool (30 miles from Man U) is a big rival as well, as both are big international clubs, and some consider both the most successful English clubs. Rarely have both clubs been successful at the same time. The rivalry took off during the Industrial Revolution when the cities were competing against each other.

  • 1962 - the last time a player was transferred from one club to the other.

The Culture

Top 5, if not TOP supported club in all of soccer depending on how you measure. A Global brand valued at over $2.25B, the highest of any SPORTS team. The club is listed on the NYSE. More supporter clubs than any team. Olde Trafford - think Lambeau Field - history, retrofit, modern. The biggest in the PL. Recognized stars - Dave “bend it like” Beckham, Wayne Rooney.

If you are looking for a big club with title expectations every year in the PL and in Europe with the most fans in the world, this is the club for you.

Sir Alex Ferguson

Took over a club in danger of relegation in 1986 and reportedly was on verge of being sacked in 1990 but led The Red Devils to the FA Cup Title. Then in 1993 won the PL and went on to be the most successful manager in all soccer for 27 years. His success was historic:

From 1992, 19 of 22 years finishing 1 or 2 in the League.

Sir Alex won 34 cups as manager, double the next best, Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) at 17.

You can watch a documentary on Amazon Prime Video of his career - Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In 

Song

A single released Frank Renshaw of Herman’s Hermits in 1983, it is also the slogan of the official club magazine launched in 1994. “Glory, glory Man United, Glory, glory Man United, Glory, glory Man United, As the Reds go marching on, on, on!”.

Sir Alex Ferguson

Game Day Pub Guide

Supporters You May Recognize

For a comprehensive list, click here, its long!

  • Elon Musk

  • Usain Bolt

  • Floyd Mayweather

  • Justin Timberlake

  • Rory McIlroy

Fan Sites

Possibly the biggest most followed club in the world. There are so many, here are a couple places to start.

Official Twitter

@ManUtd

High Follows on Twitter

@manutd_updates (52k)

@manutd_action (95k)

@RedDevilsHub (35k)

@manunitedworld (335k)

Many Many More

The Team

The Gaffer

  • Erik ten Hag (Dutch), 53yo

  • Took over at MU in 2022 for his first time in England after some success at The Netherlands top club Ajax.

ODDS

  • To Win League +800

  • To Be Relegated +50,000

  • To Finish Top 4 -110

  • To Finish Top 10 -4,000

Roster Notes

Full Roster click link

Projected to finish 4th

  • No Americans on the roster

  • Bruno Fernandes, Portugal, 28yo, Midfield, Captain

  • Since taking over MU, ten Hag has spent close to $500M to reinvent the club.

  • Marcus Rashford, England, is MU highest valued player at $100M and time will tell if his game matches it. Talent has been added, can they come together to contend?

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