From Ground Up: How Ratcliffe Is Rebuilding Manchester United

Phase One: The Overhaul Begins

The club's first phase of a sweeping overhaul has begun. About 450 staff were laid off in what amounts to one of the biggest restructurings in Manchester United's history, paired with a near-total top level shake-up. The aim is to cut uncertainty and stabilize the internal turmoil. After a wave of exits, the rebuilding phase started.

British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought a 27.7 percent stake in Manchester United during Christmas 2023 for 1.25 billion pounds, vowing to restore the club to the pinnacle of English football while making it a profitable venture.

But the numbers were stark: the club had lost 113.2 million pounds by 30 June 2024, prompting Ratcliffe to warn in March that insolvency could be declared by Christmas if immediate steps were not taken.

On the pitch, changes were clear: Erik ten Hag was replaced by Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim, more than 450 million pounds invested to strengthen the squad, and 50 million pounds poured into renovating the Carrington training center.

But the real shock was behind the scenes. Insiders close to the new management argued the club was overstaffed, with many unnecessary roles. They also found United's finances relied on constant Champions League participation or Premier League glory, and any failure would strain the budget.

Therefore, cutting staff was harsh but unavoidable. In the first months after Ratcliffe's arrival, 250 employees were laid off, followed by another 200 in the second round. The aim was a more flexible hiring model and more efficient use of human resources.

The most visible changes came in data analytics. In a late 2024 interview with United We Stand magazine, Ratcliffe described the club's analytics as stuck in a century of the past.

Hence, he enlisted an expert from Formula 1, Michael Sansoni from Mercedes, to lead the data division. Since arriving in April 2025, Sansoni rebuilt the system from scratch, making data analytics central to performance, training, and recruitment.

One club source confirmed that analytics has jumped to a level that puts it among Europe's top four, though details remain highly confidential.

Alongside cuts, management focused on hiring people with multiple skills who can contribute in more than one area.

The Old Trafford roster includes 19 new names, including executive director Omar Barada from Barcelona and Manchester City, business director Mark Armstrong from Paris Saint-Germain, performance director Sam Erith from City and Tottenham, head of recruitment Christopher Fivell from Chelsea and the Red Bull group.

They also appointed Roger Bell from INEOS as CFO, and Kirsten Verber from Channel 4 as HR chief. In addition, a new head of sports medicine, a team doctor, a nutritionist, a chef focused on player performance, the academy director, and the communications director.

Only two prominent figures remained from the old regime: Collette Roche and Martin Mosley.

Roche, chief operating officer, is leading a project to build a new 100,000-seat stadium and develop the Old Trafford area. Mosley, who joined in 2007, now serves as general counsel after Patrick Stewart left for Rangers.

Their presence is seen as a crucial link between the Glazer era and the new administration, especially as newcomers learn about the club's size and its operational complexities.

Not all changes were successful. One notable failure was the stint of Dan Ashworth, the sporting director who arrived from Newcastle for 3 million pounds, but left after just five months.

Despite denials of a disagreement over Amorim's appointment, club sources confirmed a difference in vision about Ashworth's role, which led to his departure with an additional 4 million pound compensation.

After nearly two years since Ratcliffe's arrival, Manchester United is a very different institution.

The staggering losses narrowed from 113 million to 33 million pounds by June 2025, with expectations the club will post profits in the coming years.

The Glazer family still holds influence, but visibility has faded, while decision making is now in Ratcliffe's hands.

Insiders say the focus now is not just what happens next week or in the upcoming transfer window, but the medium and long term vision.

The short term objective this season is to return to European competition, but the major aims are a sustained challenge for the Premier League and the Champions League.

With this strict vision and sweeping reform, Manchester United is experiencing one of its boldest administrative eras in recent history, balancing a push to reclaim glory with a new structure that aims to place the club again at the top of Europe and the world.

Punchline 1: If this rebuild were a striker, it would be scoring from the budget.

Punchline 2: And if the team falters, the data team will tell us exactly where the goals went.