Manchester United is one of the oldest football clubs in England and the world. The club was founded in the late 19th century and was known as Newton Heath FC. For over a century, the club also known as the red devils have played at their home ground Old Trafford. Manchester United’s greatest rivals over the years include Leeds, Manchester City, Liverpool, etc. In terms of most silverware won since the start of English Football, no club is as successful as Manchester United Football Club. In fact, the club is so successful that it was formerly listed on the LSE until it was bought out by the Glazer family. Today, punters can buy shares in the club on the NYSE and be part-owners of their favorite club. We take a look at the past, present, and future of what lies for a club with such a rich and successful history.
Manchester United Football Club’s Past
Looking back, no one can dispute the records, titles, and history that Manchester United boasts. However, a lot has happened over the past few decades that have shaped the club’s present and determine its future in a way.
- Munich air crash – The Munich air crash was and still is one of the worst accidents to sportsmen in the United Kingdom. In 1958, a plane carrying 8 prolific Manchester United players crashed, killing all of them. It took the club a long time to rebuild a squad good enough to compete in English football. To this day, United fans know the incident.
- Alex Ferguson – Sir Alex Ferguson is one of Manchester United’s greatest managers. He is a legendary manager who managed one of the greatest United squads of all time. He started with the club in 1986, finishing more than 25 years with the club. Over his time, the club won 13 Premier League trophies, 2 Champions League Cups, and 38 trophies in all competitions.
- The Class of ‘92 – The Class of ‘92 set the pace for the dominance of Manchester United Football Club for the next 2 decades going into the 2010s. This batch produced the likes of David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Gary Neville, and his brother, Phil Neville. Fans can even watch the documentary on the same. In 1999, the team became the first English club to win the treble (PL, CL, and FA Cup). Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo also join the fray with this core United team for the next two decades.
- Cristiano Ronaldo – One of the greatest footballers of the current generation plied his trade at Manchester United. Before being sold to Madrid in 2009 for 80 million Pounds, he helped Manchester United Football Club lift the UEFA Champions League, several Premier League titles, and the golden boot on multiple occasions.
Manchester United’s Present
Over the past 8 seasons, fans have witnessed the greatest club in English Football start to wane from the top. Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, the club hasn’t really found a successor to fit his shoes. In the last 8 years, the club managed to win the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the Europa League once. While this does not bode well for the fans and the club, the club is looking to the future and to rebuild a better and younger squad. Currently, Ole Gunnar, an ex-player, manages Manchester United Football Club. Some of the core squad players currently include Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba, Antony Martial, David De Gea, Bruno Fernandez, Edinson Cavani, etc. Some of the club’s future stars include Mason Greenwood, Daniel James, Dean Henderson, etc. This season, United has put in a mediocre performance just as the past few seasons. The team is currently mid-table and is going to have to find more consistency for a top-4 finish.
Manchester United’s Future
The future of such an illustrious club is under the cloud. The club can’t do worse than they already have over the past few seasons. It won’t be long before Manchester United Football Club brings in the right signings and future stars. The club has the financial muscle and backing to do so as well. Only with the right signings, squad players and future elite development squad players can the club step out of the shadows of the past decade. It’s time for the club from Manchester to shift away from the past success of Sir Alex. The club should look to build a better squad. A squad with the ability to compete with English and European clubs in the 21st century.
