Manchester United Football Club is a professional-level football club in Old Trafford, England. This club competes in the top English football championship, ‘Premier League.’ In 2016-2017, Manchester United became the most valuable and the highest-earning football club all across the world. The club has won several prestigious awards that include Intercontinental Cup, European Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
Inception
Manchester United Football Club was founded as the “Newton Heath LYR Football Club” in the year 1878. Its name was changed to Manchester United in the year 1902. In 1910, the club was moved to its present stadium, “Old Trafford.” Initially, the teams used to play games against railway departments. By 1888, the club became the founding member of a regional football league titled “The Combination.” After the termination of the league after one season, Newton Heath joined an alliance named Football Alliance and played matches for three seasons.
Later, it merged with “The Football League.” In April 1902, Manchester United was formally born under the administration of Ernest Mangnall, who expected managerial duties in 1903. The owner of this club is The Glazer Family. The Chairmen of Manchester United are Avram Glazer and Joel Glazer.
The name of the President of this club is Martin Edwards. The Executive Vice Chairman is Ed Woodward. The Managing Director and CFO of the group are Richard Arnold and Cliff Baty, respectively. Directors of Manchester United Group are Sir Bobby Charlton, Michael Edelson, David Gill, and Sir Alex Ferguson.
Evolution
In October 1945, Matt Busby was appointed in the team as manager. He took over the charge of team selection, training sessions, and player transfers. Under Busby’s authority, the team finished the league at second-place league in three consecutive years as 1947, 1948, and 1949. The team won the FA Cup victory in 1948. After four years, the club won the First Division. They secured their first league title for forty-one years. Their success continued by winning back-to-back leagues in 1956 and 1957.
In 1957, Manchester United was regarded as the first English team to have competed in the European Cup. The team recorded their most significant victory of 10-0 over Belgian champions Anderlecht. This victory created a record in the history of Manchester United. In the 1960s, Busby suffered from injuries, and so he was replaced by an assistance Jimmy Murphy who now became the manager of the team.
Bryan Robson remained the captain of the team for twelve years. This was an achievement for him as well as the team. In June 1971, Frank O’Farrell was hired as manager. He worked for less than one and a half years. Tommy Docherty replaced him in December 1972.
In 1976, the team reached the final of the FA Cup but lost to Southampton. In 1976, they reached the final again by defeating Liverpool 2–1. Docherty lost his position due to his affair with the wife of the club’s physiotherapist.
Dave Sexton was appointed as the new manager in 1977. Manchester United competed in the 1991 UEFA Super Cup, where they defeated Red Star Belgrade by 1–0 in the final match. In 1993, the club secured its first league title after 1967. In 1968, they won their second consecutive title alongside the FA Cup.
In the 1998–99 season, the team of Manchester was honored as the first team to have won the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and FA Cup.
Awards & Achievements
Looking at the victories of Manchester United, it is evident that this team has won more trophies and accolades than any other English football group. It has a record of:
twenty League titles (1907–1908, 1910–11, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13),
twelve FA Cups (1908–09, 1947–48, 1962–63, 1976–77, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2015–16),
a record of twenty-one FA Community Shields (1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965*, 1967*, 1977*, 1983, 1990*, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016),
five League Cups,
three UEFA Champions Leagues (1967–68, 1998–99, 2007–08), one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, one UEFA Europa League (2016–17),
one Intercontinental Cup,
one UEFA Super Cup, and
one FIFA Club World Cup 2008.
In 1998–1999, Manchester United became the first club to have achieved the continental European treble.
Net Worth of Manchester United in 2024
As of December 2024, The net worth of Manchester United is calculated to be $5 billion. The team entered into an initial deal of five-years with Sharp Electronics. The deal was worth £500,000. This deal ended on the 1999–2000 season. Later, when Vodafone signed a four-year contract worth £30 million deal with the team. Vodafone also paid £36 million as a contract extension by four years. At the beginning of the 2006–07 season, Machester United signed a four-year £56.5 million contract with an American insurance corporation, “AIG.”
In 2010–11, an American reinsurance firm named Aon became the club’s chief sponsor in a four-year contract worth approx. £80 million. This became the most lucrative shirt funding deal in the history of football history. In August 2011, Manchester United also declared their first training kit sponsor, by signing a four-year contract with DHL worth £40 million.
In terms of the trophies won, Manchester United is regarded as one of Europe’s most successful and admired clubs. Through their impressive play, the club has garnered a huge fan base of football lovers who perceive them as their role models.