Latest news with #DaveBrailsford
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Marginal gains? More like major shambles… Sir Dave Brailsford presided over Man Utd's worst season for half a century
Brailsford's impressive record in cycling has failed to translate to football RED FACED Marginal gains? More like major shambles… Sir Dave Brailsford presided over Man Utd's worst season for half a century IT turns out Manchester United wasn't the right place for 'marginal gains' man Sir Dave Brailsford. Had Brailsford been the 'bloody great whopping gains man', then perhaps it might have been, because United aren't failing by fine margins. Advertisement 5 Sir Dave Brailsford has stepped down from his duties at Manchester United Credit: Getty Last season they failed to win the title by 42 points, gaining exactly half as many as champions Liverpool. They failed to qualify for Europe this year. And, for years now, their player recruitment has failed to make any footballing or economic sense. When Sir Jim Ratcliffe took over United's footballing arm in December 2023, Brailsford — as Ineos director of sport — assumed a hands-on role at Old Trafford. Advertisement READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS BRUNO'S ROCK Bruno's wife paid for dates when he was broke convinced him to snub £200m move Brailsford was the billionaire's eyes and ears, his most trusted lieutenant, and it was hoped his philosophy of 'marginal gains' — which made him so successful in cycling — would translate to football. Yet just 18 months later, Brailsford relinquishes his day-to-day duties at the club with United further away than ever from where they want to be. Brailsford had forged his reputation in cycling on those 'marginal gains' — think of everything that goes into riding a bike, improve them all by one per cent, add them up and you have a significant increase in performance. Which is all well and good when it comes to the singular act of cycling. Advertisement 5 Brailsford was brought in as part of Ineos' Man Utd revolution under Sir Jim Ratcliffe Credit: Alamy 5 Brailsford was a key part of British cycling before his more recent move into football Credit: Getty Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford Not so much when it comes to the very many more moving parts that make up a massively underachieving football club. Advertisement Back at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where his Team GB cyclists racked up eight gold medals, Brailsford was widely regarded as the finest mind in sport. Bruno Fernandes reveals role his wife played in £200m Al-Hilal transfer snub even though Man Utd were ready to cash in By 2012, when Britain won another eight golds in the London velodrome, and Brailsford's Team Sky had taken their stranglehold on the Tour de France Yellow Jersey, it was 'arise Sir Dave'. But a lot of effluent had passed under the bridge between that high watermark and Brailsford's arrival at Old Trafford more than a decade later. By then, his reputation had taken a battering — there had been allegations about the contents of a jiffy bag, the employment of 'Therapeutic Use Exemptions' for banned drugs, as well as accusations of bullying under Brailsford's watch from some of his most successful cyclists. Advertisement While clearly a brilliant man in many ways, Brailsford was damaged goods by the time he rocked up at United. And those who have tried to bring ideas from other sports into football have tended to fail — World Cup-winning rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward's spell at Southampton being a prime example. Brailsford — who is 61 but only celebrated his 15th birthday last year, due to him being born on February 29 — played a key part in Ratcliffe's Old Trafford 'politburo'. He was instrumental in the Carrington training ground refurbishment and staff job cuts, as well as in the appointment of Ruben Amorim as manager. Advertisement 5 Brailsford helped guide Man Utd to the appointment of Ruben Amorim Credit: Getty Brailsford led 'Mission 21' to deliver United's 21st league title, which forms part of 'Project 150' to mark the club's 150th anniversary in 2028 — because these people always have to have a 'mission' and they always have to have a 'project'. But the idea of United being crowned champions within three years looks pie in the sky after what was comfortably the club's worst season for half a century. Brailsford has come and gone, Dan Ashworth — one of the most well-regarded administrators in football — has been and gone within five months. Advertisement The same period of time he served on gardening leave after Ratcliffe poached him from Newcastle. Former Manchester City bigwig Omar Berrada remains in post as chief executive after winning his power struggle with Ashworth, while Jason Wilcox has been promoted from 'technical director' to 'director of football'. At least, for the time being. Brailsford remains on United's board but is expected to devote more time to the Ineos Grenadiers cycling team, as well as Ratcliffe's other football club, Nice. Advertisement His time at United has been a curious one but rather than marginal gains, he presided over a major shambles.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Marginal gains? More like major shambles… Sir Dave Brailsford presided over Man Utd's worst season for half a century
IT turns out Manchester United wasn't the right place for 'marginal gains' man Sir Dave Brailsford. Had Brailsford been the 'bloody great whopping gains man', then perhaps it might have been, because United aren't failing by fine margins. Advertisement 5 Sir Dave Brailsford has stepped down from his duties at Manchester United Credit: Getty Last season they failed to win the title by 42 points, gaining exactly half as many as champions Liverpool. They failed to qualify for Europe this year. And, for years now, their player recruitment has failed to make any footballing or economic sense. When Advertisement READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS Brailsford was the billionaire's eyes and ears, his most trusted lieutenant, and it was hoped his philosophy of 'marginal gains' — which made him so successful in cycling — would translate to football. Yet just 18 months later, Brailsford had forged his reputation in cycling on those 'marginal gains' — think of everything that goes into riding a bike, improve them all by one per cent, add them up and you have a significant increase in performance. Which is all well and good when it comes to the singular act of cycling. Advertisement Most read in Football 5 Brailsford was brought in as part of Ineos' Man Utd revolution under Sir Jim Ratcliffe Credit: Alamy 5 Brailsford was a key part of British cycling before his more recent move into football Credit: Getty Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford Not so much when it comes to the very many more moving parts that make up a massively underachieving football club. Advertisement Back at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where his Team GB cyclists racked up eight gold medals, Brailsford was widely regarded as the finest mind in sport. Bruno Fernandes reveals role his wife played in £200m Al-Hilal transfer snub even though Man Utd were ready to cash in By 2012, when Britain won another eight golds in the London velodrome, and Brailsford's Team Sky had taken their stranglehold on the Tour de France Yellow Jersey, it was 'arise Sir Dave'. But a lot of effluent had passed under the bridge between that high watermark and Brailsford's arrival at Old Trafford more than a decade later. By then, his reputation had taken a battering — there had been allegations about the contents of a jiffy bag, the employment of 'Therapeutic Use Exemptions' for banned drugs, as well as accusations of bullying under Brailsford's watch from some of his most successful cyclists. Advertisement While clearly a brilliant man in many ways, Brailsford was damaged goods by the time he rocked up at United. And those who have tried to bring ideas from other sports into football have tended to fail — World Cup-winning rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward's spell at Southampton being a prime example. Brailsford — who is 61 but only celebrated his 15th birthday last year, due to him being born on February 29 — played a key part in Ratcliffe's Old Trafford 'politburo'. He was instrumental in the Carrington training ground refurbishment and staff job cuts, as well as in the appointment of Advertisement 5 Brailsford helped guide Man Utd to the appointment of Ruben Amorim Credit: Getty Brailsford led 'Mission 21' to deliver United's 21st league title, which forms part of 'Project 150' to mark the club's 150th anniversary in 2028 — because these people always have to have a 'mission' and they always have to have a 'project'. But the idea of United being crowned champions within three years looks pie in the sky after what was comfortably the club's worst season for half a century. Brailsford has come and gone, Dan Ashworth — one of the most well-regarded administrators in football — has been and gone within five months. Advertisement The same period of time he served on gardening leave after Ratcliffe poached him from Newcastle. Former Manchester City bigwig Omar Berrada remains in post as chief executive after winning his power struggle with Ashworth, while Jason Wilcox has been promoted from 'technical director' to 'director of football'. At least, for the time being. Brailsford remains on United's board but is expected to devote more time to the Ineos Grenadiers cycling team, as well as Ratcliffe's other football club, Nice. Advertisement His time at United has been a curious one but rather than marginal gains, he presided over a major shambles. 5 Man Utd have endured one of their worst ever seasons Credit: Getty
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
More changes at Man United as Dave Brailsford scales back role with the troubled club
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United's soccer operations are undergoing yet more change with one of its key figures Dave Brailsford scaling back his role with the troubled club, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the information has not been made public.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
More changes at Man United as Dave Brailsford scales back role with the troubled club
Sir Alex Ferguson, right, speaks to Sir Jim Ratcliffe during the Europa League final soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) FILE - Sky team manager Sir Dave Brailsford attends a training near Saint-Mars-la-Reorthe, France, Friday, July 6, 2018, ahead of Saturday's start of the Tour de France cycling race. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File) FILE - Sky team manager Sir Dave Brailsford attends a training near Saint-Mars-la-Reorthe, France, Friday, July 6, 2018, ahead of Saturday's start of the Tour de France cycling race. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File) Sir Alex Ferguson, right, speaks to Sir Jim Ratcliffe during the Europa League final soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) FILE - Sky team manager Sir Dave Brailsford attends a training near Saint-Mars-la-Reorthe, France, Friday, July 6, 2018, ahead of Saturday's start of the Tour de France cycling race. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File) MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United's soccer operations are undergoing yet more change with one of its key figures Dave Brailsford scaling back his role with the troubled club, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the information has not been made public. Advertisement Brailsford, who was credited for his role in British cycling's spectacular Olympic success in recent years, was a key component of billionaire Jim Ratcliffe's United overhaul following his minority investment in the club last year. But things haven't gone to plan, with the 20-time English champion suffering its lowest finish in the Premier League era last season — 15th — and recording its lowest points total and highest number of losses. Brailsford, who is also sporting director for Ratcliffe's petrochemicals firm INEOS, will remain in that role and also as a United director. However his day-to-day involvement will be reduced, the person said. It is the latest in a slew of changes at United over the past year since Ratcliffe paid $1.3 billion for an initial 25% stake in United, assumed control of its soccer operations from majority owners the Glazer family and vowed to bring the good times back. Advertisement In that time there have been high-profile hirings and firings, as well new lows on the field and job cuts. Former manager Erik ten Hag went in October — just three months after being handed a one-year contract extension. Director of football Dan Ashworth left the club less than six months into the job and following lengthy negotiations to pry him away from Newcastle. Omar Berrada was lured from Manchester City to become CEO and Jason Wilcox, formerly director of City's academy, became technical director. They remain in position as two key members of the leadership team above coach Ruben Amorim. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer:
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Brailsford to step back from Man Utd in another major Ratcliffe reshuffle
Sir Dave Brailsford will step back from his role at Manchester United as Sir Jim Ratcliffe changes his hierarchy with the cycling icon turning his attention to other roles in the Ineos structure Sir Dave Brailsford is set to step back from his current role with Manchester United as Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues to change his hierarchy - which has so fair failed to yield any success at Old Trafford. The cycling supremo will return to his director of sport role for Ineos. He had previously stood down as team principal of Ineos Grenadiers when Ratcliffe purchased his stake in United and took charge of football operations. Brailsford was initially crucial to the change the new owners wanted to implement. The Times reports that Ratcliffe wants Brailsford to return to his former role so that he can oversee transitions elsewhere in Ineos sport portfolio whilst also reviving some of his focus on cycling. Brailsford is due to aid the Ineos Grenadiers management team of John Allert, the chief executive, and performance director Scott Drawer. Ratcliffe has remained committed to his cycling projects despite majorly cutting back in some of his other investments. Sponsorship of the All Blacks has ended and the British billionaire has also called time on his pursuit of the America's Cup. Despite the well documented struggles in Manchester Ratcliffe believes Brailsford has played a major role in the positive transitions that have been made. He's credited with changing the performance set-up and leading the £50m redevelopment of Carrington. The Ineos Sport's team unit led by Brailsford will again be managing Ratcliffe's other football investment, Ligue 1 club Nice, who failed to qualify for the Champions League. United have endured plenty of upheaval in the senior management since Ineos took over, some of it not welcome. Dan Ashworth was brought in to be the director of football but left after only five months in charge despite the club chasing him for a prolonged period when he was at Newcastle. The decisions taken by the hierarchy have also proved massively unpopular with a huge number of jobs cut. United's season finished with a whimper as they eventually ended in 15th - a new low in the Premier League. That came after they were beaten in the Europa League final by Tottenham, which cost them a spot in the Champions League and the riches that come with that. The hierarchy are also under the microscope as they look to make their latest managerial decision work. Ruben Amorim was bought in but has endured a horror few months. That comes after Ratcliffe's lieutenants chose to keep Erik ten Hag last summer, only to sack him shortly after.
