who are the owners of manchester united
The short answer: Manchester United is co-owned, with the Glazer family still the main controlling owners, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe (through INEOS) as a powerful minority co-owner who runs the football side of the club.
Current owners at a glance
- The Glazer family are the long‑term majority owners and still control most of the voting power at the club.
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his company INEOS own a large minority stake (about 28–29%) and have been given control over football operations.
- Other public and institutional investors hold smaller stakes through shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange (MANU), but with limited influence compared to the Glazers and INEOS.
Who actually “owns” Manchester United?
If you look at it from a practical power perspective:
- The Glazers :
- Have been in control since a controversial leveraged buyout in 2005.
* Keep control mainly via special Class B shares that carry more votes, so their voting power is higher than their economic percentage.
* Still have the final say on the biggest strategic and financial decisions.
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe / INEOS :
- Bought an initial 25% stake in 2023–24 for around £1.3 billion, then increased it to roughly 28.9% by late 2024.
* Has been granted **control over football operations** , meaning transfers, coach appointments, academy direction and broader sporting strategy run through the INEOS side.
So in everyday fan language:
The club is still mainly owned and controlled by the Glazer family , but Sir Jim Ratcliffe/INEOS are co‑owners with a big minority stake and the keys to the football department.
Simple ownership table
| Owner / Group | Approx. stake | Main role |
|---|---|---|
| Glazer family | ~49% economic stake, majority of voting power (around two‑thirds of votes) | Long‑term controlling owners, board dominance, final say on major decisions |
| Sir Jim Ratcliffe / INEOS | ~28–29% stake | Co‑owner, runs football operations, funds infrastructure like stadium/training upgrades |
| Public & institutional investors | ~20–22% combined | Minority shareholders via NYSE‑listed shares, limited direct control |
Latest news / trend context
- The INEOS investment marked a major shift: for the first time since 2005, someone other than the Glazers has substantial control over how the football side is run.
- There have been ongoing fan protests and debates about both the Glazers’ continued presence and the new co‑ownership model, including dissatisfaction with debt levels and ticket prices.
- Financially, United remain a huge commercial machine with high revenues but also significant debt, which is a big part of why ownership is such a hot forum and social‑media topic.
Forum‑style discussion angle
If you were to drop this into a forum “Quick Scoop” thread, a typical take might look like:
“Right now United are basically split: Glazers still own and control most of the club, but Ratcliffe/INEOS run the football side with around a 29% stake. It’s not a full takeover – more like a power‑sharing deal. Some fans hope it’s a stepping stone to the Glazers eventually selling up, others are sceptical because the debt and voting control are still with the Glazer side.”
TL;DR : The owners of Manchester United are the Glazer family (majority control) and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS (large minority co‑owner with football control), plus smaller public shareholders.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.