Manchester United Begins New Wave of Redundancies Following Europa League Final Loss
Employees are set to learn their fate just days after staff were heard booing Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Avram Glazer during a screening of the final, as supporters prepare for a new wave of protest.
Manchester United intensified its cost-cutting programme on Friday by informing several football department staff that they were being made redundant, less than 48 hours after the club’s Europa League final defeat.
This marks the second major round of layoffs under the leadership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is pursuing an aggressive strategy to streamline operations and reduce costs. Last summer, approximately 250 roles were eliminated, and sources indicate that up to 200 more positions could be cut in the coming weeks.
On Friday, affected employees were called into brief meetings at United’s Carrington training facility, where they were notified of their redundancies.
Several Manchester United employees were reportedly left deeply upset following redundancy announcements made less than 48 hours after the club’s Europa League final defeat to Spurs. Some staff, said to be close to tears, were hurt by the timing of the decision—coming just one day after a staff barbecue at the Carrington training complex attended by players and their families.
The club had deferred the process for those involved with the first-team setup to avoid disrupting the final weeks of the season. However, an internal email had already informed staff they would learn their fate shortly after the final.
With manager Ruben Amorim and the first-team squad set to depart for a post-season tour of Asia following Sunday’s Premier League finale against Aston Villa, United moved to expedite the process, citing a need to provide clarity.
This marks the continuation of a sweeping cost-reduction initiative under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s leadership. At the start of the month, many employees were placed at risk of redundancy, with cuts expected across both football and non-football departments—including scouting, analysis, sports medicine, and commercial. In total, between 150 and 200 jobs are expected to be eliminated.
Senior Manchester United Staff Depart Amid Ongoing Restructure as Morale Hits New Lows
As Manchester United continues a wide-ranging cost-cutting initiative, several high-profile football executives are understood to be negotiating their exits. Among those departing are director of scouting Steve Brown, director of football insights and innovations Richard Hawkins, and director of football operations David Harrison.
The club has already made significant reductions to its scouting operation in recent years—from a peak of around 140 full-time and part-time roles to a current global network of approximately 80. That number is expected to be reduced further under the latest round of redundancies.
Earlier this month, it also emerged that Marie Marron—United’s longest-serving employee—was informed she is at risk of redundancy. Marron has worked at the club for 47 years, starting as a personal assistant to then-club secretary Ken Merrett before becoming a vital figure in first-team logistics and a key liaison with UEFA, the Premier League, and the FA.
Staff morale is said to have been severely impacted over the past year, with employees uncertain about their futures and witnessing long-serving colleagues depart. This atmosphere of anxiety and frustration was visibly evident during a staff screening of the Europa League final on Wednesday at Diecast, a Manchester city centre venue. When co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Avram Glazer appeared on screen, they were met with boos from the crowd, which included hundreds of employees and their families.
