Ed Woodward resigns as Man United chief
Ed Woodward has resigned as executive vice chairman of Manchester United due to the backlash over the proposed European Super League, it was tonight confirmed.
He will stand down at the end of 2021.
Woodward said in a statement:
“I am extremely proud to have served United and it has been an honour to work for the world’s greatest football club for the past 16 years.
“The club is well positioned for the future and it will be difficult to walk away at the end of the year.
“I will treasure the memories from my time at Old Trafford, during a period when we won the Europa League, the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. I am proud of the regeneration of the club’s culture and our return to the Manchester United way of playing.”
Shares in Manchester United were down 6.0 per cent after the announcement.
His decision to step down comes as multiple clubs, including Chelsea and rivals Manchester City, were reportedly planning to pull out of the breakaway league.
Woodward departs Old Trafford after a 16 year association with the club.
He advised the billionaire Glazer family on their takeover of the historic club back in 2005.
He has been a deeply divisive figure during his tenure at the club, and was often the object of anger from fans.
Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli has also reportedly resigned this evening as the fallout from the ESL breakaway increases.
Since the ESL was announced 48 hours ago, politicians, fans and fellow football clubs have joined forces in an outpouring of fury against the plan.