The executive vice-chairman of Manchester United Ed Woodward will exit the club at the end of this year. The football administrator and the club confirmed this on Tuesday evening.
Ed Woodward’s resignation came hours after the club and the other 5 super-six clubs – Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool announced that they have withdrawn from the Super League.
However, it has not been confirmed whether his exit from Manchester United has anything to do with the controversial European Super League.
Recall that football fans, pundits, and administrators agitated hugely against the planned Super League. The agitation of those against the league forced the super-six clubs to withdraw from the plan on Friday evening.
According to reports, Ed Woodward ought to have left the club immediately it was announced that his time at the club was up but he agreed with the owners of Manchester United, the Glazers’ family, which would keep him at the club until the end of the year.
Ed Woodward has been at Manchester United since 2005 and served in different capacities before he was made the vice-chairman of the club in 2012. Under his 16 years reign, Manchester United won one FA Cup, one Premier League title, one EFL Cup, one Europa League, and two Community Shield.
In a statement he issued to confirm his resignation from the club, Ed Woodward revealed that the club invested £1 billion in the squad which he believed has yielded results.
He said: “The club is well-positioned for the future, and it will be difficult to walk away at the end of the year.
“I will treasure the memories from my time at Old Trafford, during a period when we won the Europa League, the FA Cup, and the EFL Cup. I am proud of the regeneration of the club’s culture and our return to the Manchester United way of playing.
“We have invested more than £1bn in the squad during my time here and I am particularly delighted with the progress the players have made under the astute leadership of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his coaching team in the last two years.
“I am sure that with the changes we have made on-field and to the coaching and football staff in recent years this great club will soon be lifting silverware again. It deserves to.
“I desperately wanted the club to win the Premier League during my tenure and I am certain the foundations are in place for us to win it back for our passionate fans.
“Our world-famous academy is flourishing again, with 34 players progressing into the first team since 2013, and it has been a pleasure to watch talents such as Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Axel Tuanzebe flourish in the first-team environment. In the years to come the club’s production line of young talent will continue to push established first-team players for their places. That competition bodes well for the future.
“We have also established Manchester United women and their progress is further evidence of the demand for success at this great club.”
While Joel Glazer, the Co-chairman of Manchester United said: “Ed Woodward has served the club with great distinction. On behalf of everyone at United, I would like to place on record our sincere thanks for his tireless work and dedication.
“His contribution to the club has been massive, and he will always be welcome at Old Trafford as a part of the Manchester United family.”
Club statement.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 20, 2021
