The clamour from Manchester United fans for the club to take on a more modern structure was finally heard in 2024.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the chairman of INEOS, bought a minority stake in the club that also saw him assume control of the footballing side of things. Some might wonder why the majority owners of a football club would be prepared to give up responsibility for the football bit, but that would be to underestimate the Glazer family, owners since a leveraged buyout in 2005 and architects of United falling way behind their rivals in absolutely everything except levels of debt.
Ratcliffe and INEOS have since sought to implement the sort of operational hierarchy seen at the likes of Manchester City — one that should, in theory, make it much easier for a manager and a group of players to deliver success on the pitch. Having sacked Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim in the space of 14 months, it's fair to say things have not quite worked out that way yet.
Amorim's departure in particular brought scrutiny on those who make the key decisions at the club. For those wondering, here is how those individuals fit into the big picture.
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Man United's sporting structure, explained
Below is a run-down of how United's sporting structure works, from the very top down to the man in charge of the men's first team.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe: Co-owner
United's sporting operations are largely controlled by Ratcliffe, the club's minority owner. Ratcliffe has been a minority shareholder at the club since February 2024 and presently owns a stake of around 29%.
As part of his investment, the chairman of petrochemical and sporting enterprise INEOS is the person with overall authority when it comes to the day-to-day running of the football side of United. However, the Glazer family remain majority shareholders and the ultimate decision-makers at the club, with co-executive chairmen Avram and Joel Glazer the figures with principal control.
Major decisions, such as the hiring and firing of managers, require a sign-off from the co-owners.
Omar Berrada: CEO
Beneath Ratcliffe, Avram Glazer and Joel Glazer sits Omar Berrada, United's Chief Executive Officer. Appointed in 2024 having worked as Chief Operating Officer at Manchester City, Berrada "oversees all aspects of the club's operation and strategy" and is effectively the bridge between the boardroom and football matters.
It was Berrada who, after approval from the executive chairmen, delivered the news to Amorim that he was out of a job. He was also instrumental in the appointment of Jason Wilcox, a friend and colleague at City, having decided to remove previous sporting director Dan Ashworth just five months after bringing him in from Newcastle United.
Jason Wilcox: Director of football
Reporting to Berrada is Wilcox, the director of football, who has become a much more widely discussed figure in the wake of Amorim's departure as head coach. Wilcox was initially brought in as technical director, but he assumed the more senior position after Ashworth left the club. Wilcox is responsible for shaping United's overall approach to on-pitch matters, including player and staff recruitment, working with the scouting department and academy, and helping to shape that elusive "playing style".
Christopher Vivell: Head of recruitment
Christopher Vivell operates as head of recruitment and works closely with Wilcox on transfer matters. Vivell has a strong background in a similar role with the Red Bull network of clubs, and he is said to have been a driving force behind the signing of Benjamin Sesko.
Vivell was initially hired on an interim basis, but he was given the job full-time in February 2025. The German is in charge of United's scouting structure and emerging talent, as well as senior player recruitment.
TBD: Head coach/manager
The head coach sits below Wilcox in the structure. United had always previously bestowed the title of manager on the figure in charge of the men's first team, but this changed with the appointment of Amorim in November 2024 as Ratcliffe looked to implement a more modern set-up. In the end, this proved a sticking point for Amorim, who used a rather volatile final press conference to declare that he was the "manager, not coach" and call on others to "do their jobs".
The executive sporting structure looks like this, from the top down:
Sir Jim Ratcliffe — Avram Glazer — Joel Glazer
Omar Berrada
Jason Wilcox — Christopher Vivell
Head coach
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Man United board of directors and senior management
Board of directors
United's board comprises 12 directors, including six Glazer siblings. Avram and Joel Glazer are the executive co-chairmen and therefore the individuals with the most authority when it comes to both sporting and business matters.
The board does not necessarily take a proactive role in United's sporting operations (aside from Berrada), but everyone on that side of the club is answerable to it. Ultimately, it runs the show.
The directors are:
- Avram Glazer (Executive Co-Chairman and Director)
- Joel Glazer (Executive Co-Chairman and Director)
- Kevin Glazer (Director)
- Bryan Glazer (Director)
- Darcie Glazer Kassewitz (Director)
- Edward Glazer (Director)
- Omar Berrada (Chief Executive Officer)
- Roger Bell (Chief Financial Officer)
- John Reece (Director)
- Rob Nevin (Director)
- Robert Leitao (Independent Director)
- John Hooks (Independent Director)
Senior management
There are four figures listed in the management section of United's corporate governance page: Avram and Joel Glazer, Berrada, and Roger Bell, who came on board in May 2024 after serving as CFO at INEOS Sport.
- Avram Glazer (Executive Co-Chairman and Director)
- Joel Glazer (Executive Co-Chairman and Director)
- Omar Berrada (Chief Executive Officer)
- Roger Bell (Chief Financial Officer)