Woodward passed on Antonio Conte
Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward has hardly endeared himself to many a Red Devils faithful both at home and abroad, and that frustration could be set to continue.
Though Woodward is set to depart United at the end of this month after a sixteen-year relationship that began in 2005 in the wake of his advisory role to the Glaser family during their financial takeover of the English giants, the 50-year-old Chelmsford-native has blundered time and again during his time in the club’s hierarchy.
And now it has been revealed that the United chief passed on Antonio Conte in the wake of the club parting ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjær earlier this season before opting for current interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
#mufc decided against an approach for Antonio Conte after deciding his style of precise and exact micro-coaching would not be suited to the players #mulive [@Ian_Ladyman_DM]
— utdreport (@utdreport) January 6, 2022
As reported by the Daily Mail’s Ian Ladyman, Conte’s meticulous manner of managing to a micro-level was seen as a detriment despite his favorable CV, causing Woodward to overlook him during the hiring process after United ended their working relationship with the “babyfaced assassin.”
United could well be made to pay for that oversight as well after recent rumors have surfaced regarding tensions in the dressing room as players have failed to adapt to Rangnick, while Tottenham has yet to lose in the Premier League (6-2-0) since Conte took over from Nuno Espírito Santo while also currently sitting ahead of the Red Devils in the table.
United left in the wake of Man City and Liverpool
Though Manchester United has continued to be a standard-bearer in world football when it comes to the commercial side of the game, the Premier League giants have fallen away from domestic rivals Manchester City and Liverpool since both Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp took over at the Etihad and Anfield.
HULL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Ed Woodward arrives at the stadium during the Premier League match between Hull City and Manchester United at KCOM Stadium on August 27, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Since Pep’s arrival in England, City has never finished below United in the table while banking eight major trophies as well as an appearance in the Champions League finals.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 18: Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City celebrates victory after the FA Cup Final match between Manchester City and Watford at Wembley Stadium on May 18, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty – Manchester City/Man City via Getty Images)
Klopp’s Liverpool has also made strides during that time period especially more recently when they were crowned Premier League champions two seasons ago while also adding to their Champions League trophy cabinet the season prior.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 31: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool reacts after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park on March 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
But for United under Woodward’s guidance and the litany of questionable decisions from managerial appointments to the way the club have gone about their transfer business, 2016-17 remains the last season that the Red Devils have earned any major honors.
For a club the size of Manchester United, this was hardly good enough and truthfully, few will be sad to see the back of Ed Woodward.
