Ed Woodward resigned as executive vice-chairman of Manchester United on April 20, 2021, two days after the club surfaced as a founding member of the European Super League. He formally departed in February 2022. His exit closed a chapter that rewired the club's business operations while the team endured its longest Premier League title drought in decades.
Woodward first arrived at Old Trafford in 2005 as head of commercial and media operations. Before that, he was an investment banker at J.P. Morgan, where he advised the Glazer family on their leveraged buyout of the club. The Glazers' offer valued United at roughly £790 million, a price set by the family's bidding vehicle and the selling shareholders. That deal loaded debt onto the balance sheet, a financial structure that would define the ownership for nearly two decades. The official offer document is archived at the Takeover Panel's website.
When David Gill stepped down as chief executive in 2013, Woodward was promoted to executive vice-chairman. He inherited a club that had just won its 20th Premier League title under Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired that same summer. Woodward's mandate was clear: grow revenue. The question that followed for the next nine years was whether commercial expansion could coexist with winning trophies.
The Commercial Machine
Under Woodward's business leadership, Manchester United's annual partnership income grew from roughly £50 million in 2005 to more than £275 million by 2019. That fivefold increase came from a strategy of global brand deals that treated the club less as a sports team and more as a media and licensing asset.
The adidas watershed
The signature deal landed in 2015, when United signed a world-record kit manufacturing agreement with adidas. The contract guaranteed the club a minimum of £750 million over 10 years, a figure set by the two parties and disclosed in the club's filings to the New York Stock Exchange. For the exact annual band, check the club's investor relations page. The club also secured a shirt sponsorship with Chevrolet worth roughly £47 million per year, a rate later replaced by a TeamViewer deal at terms published in the club's quarterly reports.
Selling beyond the pitch
Woodward's approach monetized United's global fanbase, particularly in Asia and North America, through partnerships that stretched beyond traditional football sponsorship. The club opened offices in London, Hong Kong, and New York. It signed deals with noodle brands, tyre manufacturers, and watchmakers. The logic was straightforward: United's badge could be sold to any company targeting male consumers aged 18 to 35 anywhere in the world.
The Footballing Cost
During Woodward's tenure as executive vice-chairman from 2013 to 2022, Manchester United failed to win the Premier League title. The club also did not win the UEFA Champions League. It went through four permanent managers: David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho, and Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Each arrived with fanfare. Each left with the club further from challenging for the top honors.
Revenue up, results down
The contrast between business success and on-pitch failure became the defining tension of Woodward's legacy. While revenue hit records, performance declined. Transfer spending was high but often poorly directed. The squad lacked cohesion. The club's debt, a legacy of the Glazer takeover, remained substantial despite rising income.
A business mind in a sporting world
Woodward was not a football man, and he did not pretend to be. He described his role as enabling the sporting side to succeed by maximizing revenue. But critics argued that the corporate-first culture infected football decisions. Managers were hired partly for their marketability. Transfers seemed to prioritize brand appeal over tactical fit. The club's football operations lacked the structure that rivals like Manchester City and Liverpool had built.
The Super League Collapse
The European Super League surfaced on April 18, 2021. Manchester United was named as one of 12 founding clubs. The proposal outlined a closed, largely breakaway competition that would guarantee participation for its members regardless of domestic league performance. Fan reaction was immediate and ferocious. Supporters protested outside Old Trafford. The UK government threatened legislative action.
Woodward's role in the Super League planning has never been fully established. He was the senior leader at United, and the club's involvement was disclosed under his watch. Within 48 hours, the project collapsed as clubs withdrew under pressure. On April 20, 2021, Woodward confirmed he would step down as executive vice-chairman. He cited the Super League backlash as the reason.
The speed of his departure was striking. Woodward had been at the club for 16 years and had survived the managerial churn and fan discontent. The Super League was the event that broke that tenure. It united fans, players, and politicians against the club's ownership and leadership in a way that years of underperformance on the pitch had not.
After Woodward
Richard Arnold succeeded Woodward as chief executive officer. Arnold had been the club's managing director and a longtime colleague. He served until late 2023. The post-Woodward era brought further structural change. In November 2022, the Glazer family disclosed a strategic review of the club, which ultimately led to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS acquiring a 25% minority stake in December 2023. As part of that deal, INEOS assumed control of football operations.
A new structure
Omar Berrada was appointed as the new chief executive officer in early 2024, joining from Manchester City. His appointment signaled a shift toward a more football-focused operational structure, with technical directors and sporting leaders given authority that had previously been concentrated in the business side.
Woodward's legacy at Manchester United is a study in contradiction. He delivered revenue growth that few clubs have matched. He also presided over the club's longest period without a Premier League title since the early 1990s. The question his tenure leaves is whether those two facts are connected. The answer matters not just for Manchester United, but for any club that must choose between maximizing revenue and winning games.
Key Facts
- Role: Executive vice-chairman, Manchester United (2013-2022)
- Joined club: 2005 as head of commercial and media operations
- Previous role: Investment banker at J.P. Morgan, advised Glazer family on leveraged buyout of Manchester United (2005); the Glazers' offer valued the club at roughly £790 million
- Partnership income growth: From roughly £50 million (2005) to more than £275 million (2019)
- Key deals: adidas kit deal guaranteeing a minimum of £750 million over 10 years (2015); Chevrolet shirt sponsorship at roughly £47 million per year
- Managers during tenure: David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær
- Premier League titles: None during Woodward's tenure (2013-2022)
- Resignation: Confirmed April 20, 2021, after European Super League collapse; formally left February 2022
- Successor: Richard Arnold (CEO until late 2023), then Omar Berrada (appointed 2024)
- Ownership change: Glazer family strategic review (November 2022) led to INEOS acquiring 25% stake (December 2023); INEOS assumed control of football operations
FAQ
Was Ed Woodward responsible for the European Super League plan?
Woodward was the senior leader at Manchester United when the club was named as a founding member of the Super League on April 18, 2021. His exact role in the planning has not been established. He resigned two days after the announcement.
Did Ed Woodward make Manchester United more money?
Yes. Under his business leadership, annual partnership income grew from roughly £50 million in 2005 to more than £275 million by 2019. He signed the record adidas kit deal guaranteeing a minimum of £750 million over 10 years and a Chevrolet shirt sponsorship at roughly £47 million per year. For current figures, see the club's official investor relations disclosures.
Why did Ed Woodward leave Manchester United?
Woodward confirmed his resignation on April 20, 2021, two days after the European Super League surfaced, citing the backlash. He formally left the club in February 2022.
Who replaced Ed Woodward at Manchester United?
Richard Arnold succeeded Woodward as chief executive officer and served until late 2023. Omar Berrada was appointed as CEO in early 2024, joining from Manchester City.
