Inside new Man Utd chief Richard Arnold’s role as first major job already underway
RICHARD ARNOLD will take a back seat when it comes to football decisions when he takes over from Ed Woodward next month. The new chief executive will hand the same degree of autonomy to the football experts as he would to marketing or advertising.
It will take his voice out of decisions about players and leave that to interim manager Ralf Rangnick, Technical Director Darren Fletcher, Football Director John Murtough and the recruitment department.
The move is seen as essential if United are to have distinct lines of responsibility over transfer policy.
And while it is not expected to deliver a free rein to the football side the feeling that the board, and by definition the Glazers are dictating an area over which they have no expertise.
Arnold, 50, has a similar background to Woodward and studied like the outgoing executive vice chairman at Bristol University.
He is a qualified accountant with a background in commerce, sponsorship, retail and digital media and joined United in 2007 becoming group managing director six years later.
Unlike Woodward, the new boss was born and raised in the north west and will work from Old Trafford not London.
He is known by insiders at the club as a tough negotiator who does not suffer fools gladly but is well-liked.
The biggest job in his in-tray, namely to pick a new manager this summer, could well be his biggest and the defining decision of his time in charge.
The process is already underway with Rangick set to move upstairs to a two-year consultancy role next summer when the new man is identified.
ED WOODWARD TIMELINE – SEASON BY SEASON
13-14
Manager: DAVID MOYES / RYAN GIGGS
PL finish: 7th
Cups: None
Major signings: Maraoune Fellaini (£27.5m) Juan Mata (£27.1m)
Sacked Moyes after just 34 games in April appointed Ryan Giggs as interim before securing Louis Van Gaal as successor in May.
14-15
Manager: LOUIS VAN GAAL
PL finish: 4th
Cups: None
Major signings: Angel Di Maria (£59.7m), Anders Herrera (£29m), Luke Shaw (£27m), Marcus Rojo (£16m), Daley Blind (£13.8m), Memphis Depay (£25m)
Gave Van Gaal control over recruitment and loosened the purse strings but brought no great improvement
15-16
Manager: LOUIS VAN GAAL
PL finish: 5th
Cups: Won FA Cup
Major signings: Matteo Darmian (£12.7m), Bastian Schweinsteiger (£14.4m), Anthony Martial (£36m), Morgan Schneiderlin (£25m), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£26m)
Some poor decisions in transfers continued big spending theme. Won FA Cup but immediately sacked Van Gaal.
16-17
Manager: JOSE MOURINHO
PL finish: 6th
Cups: Won Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League
Major signings: Paul Pogba (£89.3m), Victor Lindelof (£31m)
Signs of focus in the transfer market and improvement on the pitch with cup success home and aboard
17-18
Manager: JOSE MOURINHO
PL finish: 2nd
Cups: None
Major signings: Romelu Lukaku (£75m), Nemanja Matic (£40m), Diogo Dalot (£19m), Fred (£52m)
Splashed the cash on signings and rewarded with 2nd place but fractures beginning to show in relations with manager and squad.
18-19
Manager: JOSE MOURINHO / OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER
PL finish: 6th
Cups: None
Major signings: Daniel James (£15m), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£50m)
Sacked Mourinho in December after relations with players soured, appointed Solskjaer as caretaker but appointed permanently in March
19-20
Manager: OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER
PL finish: 3rd
Cups: None
Major signings: Harry Maguire (£80m), Bruno Fernandes (£47m)
Lukaku sale brought in £74m, struggled for consistency and beaten in three Cup semi-finals prompting questions about Solskjaer’s tactical acumen.
20-21
Manager: OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER
PL finish: 2nd
Cups: None
Major signings: Donny Van De Beek (£35m), Alex Telles (£13.6m), Amad Diallo (£19m)
Improvement in league position albeit 12 points behind Man City, but questions still remain over direction and identity under Solskjaer.
21-22
Manager: OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER / RALF RANGNICK
Current PL: 7th
Cups: Still in CL and FAC
Major signings: Jadon Sancho (£73m), Raphael Varane (£34m), Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.85m)
Awarded OGS a new three year deal and feelgood factor over Ronaldo homecoming but sacked Ole in December replacing him with Rangnick.
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