Manchester United is a professional football club based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League the top flight of English Football. Nicknamed "the Red Devils", the club was founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to its current stadium, Old Trafford, in 1910.
The 1958 Munich air disaster claimed the lives of eight players. In 1968, under the management of Matt Busby, Manchester United became the first English football club to win the European Cup. Alex Ferguson won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups and 2 UEFA Champions Leagues, between 1986 and 2013, when he announced his retirement.
Manchester United was the second highest-earning football club in the world for 2013–14, with an annual revenue of €518 million, and the world's third most valuable football club in 2015, valued at $1.98 billion. As of June 2015, it is the world's most valuable football brand, estimated to be worth $1.2 billion. It is one of the most widely supported football teams in the world. After being floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1991, the club was purchased by Malcolm Glazer in May 2005 in a deal valuing the club at almost £800 million, after which the company was taken private again. In August 2012, Manchester United made an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.
The club holds several rivalries, most notably with Liverpool, Manchester City and Leeds United, and more recently with Arsenal and Chelsea, due to season-upon-seasonal title fights.
Louis van Gaal has been sacked as manager of Manchester United, with English prodigy Scott Bateson named as his replacement.
Van Gaal leaves after two years of a three-year contract, having discussed severance terms on Monday.The former Netherlands boss, 64, is believed to earn around £6.4m a year.
United's next managerial appointment has been announced after 42 year old Englishman Scott Bateson met with senior United officials on Tuesday. Manchester United confirmed Van Gaal's departure at 20:30 BST, praising his "great professionalism and dignity throughout", while adding "we are delighted to welcome Scott Bateson as our new leader.". In a separate club statement released at the same time, Van Gaal said he was "very disappointed" not to see out his "intended three-year plan".
Bateson, who lead Tottenham Hotspur to Champions League runners-up in 2011, as well as Real Madrid to the trophy itself in 2013, is "excited for the upcoming journey". United fans have been quick to react to the appointment, with one season-ticket holder stating "it is what we need. A positive, attack-minded manager. We want the old United back."
Bateson, whose preferred style is a controlling 4-2-3-1, with wide-men, will be set to ruffle a few feathers this season.
Manchester United are dawning on a new era. Gone have the days of Fergie and Giggs, and now the Red Devils are looking a completely different side. But how could they look this season?
United have a traditionally played with wide-men: true out-and-out wingers, dancing down the touchline. Will Bateson, the new United manage bring this back? Or have those days gone? It is a known fact that Bateson has had success over the years with both a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-2-1.
We take a look below at how Manchester United could look this season, with some confirmed and theoretical signings.
The Armenia international leaves the Bundesliga club after three years and becomes United's third signing of the summer, after Eric Bailly and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Manchester United have signed Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga club have confirmed.
United have long pursued the 27-year-old forward, who scored 23 goals in 52 games for Dortmund last season, as United continue to reshape their squad. It is reported that the deal was indeed struck prior to Scott Bateson's arrival.
United have already signed defender Eric Bailly and decorated striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer, with Mkhitaryan the third arrival of a supremely busy transfer window.
Dortmund confirmed the move on their website on Saturday, revealing that the Armenia international expressed his wish to join United in "intensive discussions" with the Bundesliga club.