It has been 20 years to the day because the Glazers took cost at Manchester United, spending over £2billion within the years since underneath various completely different managers looking for Premier League glory
It has been precisely twenty years because the Glazer Household took possession of Manchester United.
After the takeover went by in Could 2005, some 300 United followers protested towards the Glazers exterior of Outdated Trafford, whereas Bobby Charlton was compelled to challenge a public apology to the homeowners for his or her reception. Quick ahead to 2025, and the household has spent greater than £2billion on transfers to assist the Purple Devils chase Premier League and Champions League glory, however they nonetheless stay a supply of frustration among the many Outdated Trafford trustworthy.
Whereas Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS secured a minority stake within the membership final February, with hopes of respiration a brand new lease of life into the membership when taking cost of soccer operations, little has modified by way of development on the pitch. United suffered an eighth-place end in 2023/24 underneath Erik ten Hag, regardless of the backing of the board, whereas the present time period appears to be like set to trump that and a few with a report low Premier League place.
Additional funding is definitely wanted over the upcoming summer season switch window ought to the board hope to show the tide underneath new boss Ruben Amorim, though instances have not all the time been so robust within the north west. In reality, various the primary names by the door underneath the brand new period at Outdated Trafford went on to have unimaginable stints with the Purple Devils underneath Sir Alex Ferguson.
Edwin van der Sar – £2m
After spending 4 years with Fulham, Edwin van der Sar signed for Manchester United in June 2005 in a reported £2m deal. The shot-stopper instantly hit the bottom operating at Outdated Trafford, taking part in each single minute of his opening marketing campaign over the course of 51 video games throughout all competitions.
Van der Sar helped United seize the Premier League title in 2006/07, earlier than securing a league, Neighborhood Defend and Champions League treble the next yr – displaying explicit heroics throughout a tense European remaining penalty shootout with Chelsea.
With a complete of 4 Premier League titles, Van der Sar parted methods with United in 2011, boasting 266 appearances underneath his belt in whole. He departed as the very best goalkeeper the membership had since Peter Schmeichel’s exit in 1999.
Since retiring, Van der Sar turned Ajax’s advertising director again in 2012 earlier than then being promoted in 2016 to the place of CEO. Nonetheless, in Could 2023, he resigned.
Ji-sung Park – £4m
A month after Van der Sar arrived within the north west, the Purple Devils secured the companies of Ji-sung Park from PSV for £4m. The midfielder’s arrival made him simply the second-ever Asian to signal for the membership, following on from Dong Fangzhuo in 2004.
Regardless of failing to attain as many targets as followers had predicted he would, Park was an integral a part of Ferguson’s squad and graced the pitch on 45 events in his first season. Whereas his second yr on the membership was hampered by harm, he nonetheless achieved a Premier League winners’ medal after scoring 5 targets in 14 video games.
He was additionally part of the squad that gained the 2008 Champions League, though Ferguson omitted him from the squad for the ultimate in a tricky choice. Essentially the most prolific season of Park’s profession got here in 2010/11, the place he scored eight targets throughout 28 video games, earlier than shifting on to QPR on the season’s finish. He retired after returning to previous membership PSV Eindhoven for the 2013/14 marketing campaign.
Park accomplished his teaching badges when he took maintain of QPR’s Beneath-16s as a part of his teaching B license. After leaving the membership, Park went to Ok League 1 facet Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors as their technical director in 2022.
He subsequently appointed ex-Chelsea ace Dan Petrescu as supervisor, however the Romanian’s time there did not final too lengthy as he resigned mid-season. Park then turned an advisor on the membership, who opted for one more former Chelsea participant in Gus Poyet, as he was introduced as the brand new supervisor final yr.
Ben Foster – £1m
After catching the attention of Ferguson whereas taking part in for Wrexham within the remaining of the Soccer League Trophy, Ben Foster was dropped at United for £1m in July 2005. Nonetheless, he did not keep in Larger Manchester for lengthy, as an alternative despatched out on mortgage to Watford to achieve some priceless expertise.
He spent a complete of two years at Vicarage Street, making 81 appearances earlier than returning to his father or mother membership in the summertime of 2007. Nonetheless, a cruciate ligament harm saved him out of motion for round six months, earlier than Foster lastly acquired his United debut in March 2008.
Sadly, he didn’t play one other recreation for the first-team for the rest of the season. After taking part in for the membership for a complete of 23 video games, even successful the League Cup with United twice, Foster joined Birmingham Metropolis on a everlasting deal in 2010.
After retiring, having loved a short spell with Wrexham earlier than lastly hanging up his gloves, the 42-year-old has put loads of time into his fashionable podcast, Fozcast, the place he will get big-name visitors from the world of soccer.
Nemanja Vidic – £7m
Nemanja Vidic signed for the Purple Devils within the January of 2006, in a £7m deal from Spartak Moscow. He was thrown into the fray by Ferguson instantly, making his debut in a League Cup semi-final second-leg conflict towards Blackburn.
The centre-half was out and in of the facet throughout his first six months, earlier than bonding with Rio Ferdinand forward of the 2006/07 season. That partnership has since gone on to change into one of the vital iconic in footballing historical past.
Vidic was instrumental in United successful the Champions League in 2008, and in addition achieved 5 Premier League titles throughout his time with the membership. After 300 appearances with the facet, Vidic left United on the finish of the 2013/14 season with 21 targets to his title – prolific for a central defender to say the least.
An 18-month spell at Inter Milan adopted – the ultimate considered one of which he didn’t make an look – earlier than he known as it time on his profession after a string of harm issues. His contract was finally terminated by mutual consent on the San Siro.
Patrice Evra – £5.5m
After being torn between taking on tenure with Inter Milan and United, Patrice Evra selected a transfer to England for £5.5m in January 2006. Nonetheless, the French full-back initially had issues adapting to the English recreation.
Regardless of preliminary setbacks, Evra was capable of right his errors, and grew into the United squad as considered one of its most formidable property, ending his first season with 14 appearances in whole. Whereas he wasn’t a daily starter in 2007/08, he nonetheless managed to assist United on their option to the Premier League title earlier than changing into a part of the furnishings quickly after.
Evra left Manchester United for Juventus in 2014, with 10 main honours and 379 appearances to his title. Since retiring, Evra has dipped out and in of punditry work for TV broadcasters similar to Sky Sports activities.
