Ed Woodward is set to resign as Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman on February 1, and Richard Arnold, the current managing director, will take over as the club’s next Chief Executive Officer.
Last April, Woodward said that he will step down as United’s executive vice president in the wake of the club’s failure to join the European Super League, though he did not give a specific date.
The announcement on Thursday marks the end of Woodward’s nearly nine years as United’s most prominent executive, having succeeded David Gill in May 2013.
Richard Arnold, while speaking to the club’s official website, said:
“I am honored to have the chance to serve this great club and its fans. I am determined to return that honor in any way I can.”
Woodward had an unstable relationship with United fans, who blamed him for the club’s failure to challenge for a 21st title after Sir Alex Ferguson departed the club as champions at the same time as Gill.
Ferguson’s retirement after a record 26-and-a-half-year reign, which includes a record 13 Premier League titles, is said to be Woodward’s greatest regret.
The 50-year-old also admits that basic errors in the hiring of players and managers were committed. Woodward feels Louis van Gaal, who took over as manager in the summer of 2014, was allowed too much leeway when it came to recruits and believes United would have been more successful if he had appointed Pep Guardiola or Jürgen Klopp as his first choice.
Despite signing a six-year contract, Woodward picked David Moyes as Ferguson’s successor, but the Scot lasted only 34 league games before being fired. Following that, Woodward hired Van Gaal, José Mourinho, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with Solskjaer’s replacement, Ralf Rangnick, serving as interim manager.
Also, Read: John Murtough reveals that the club wanted to give time to Solskjaer
Louis Van Gaal’s 2016 FA Cup and Jose Mourinho’s 2017 League Cup and Europa League triumphs were the major trophies claimed under Ed Woodward, who also sanctioned the £89.3m purchase of Paul Pogba.
