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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Glazers' Ten Year Old At Old Trafford (Man United) In Pics

United have won 10 trophies in 10 years under the Glazes Manchester United 's 10 years under the Glazer family's ownership has been another eventful passage in the club's rich history.

A period fraught with in-fighting amongst supporters, success, failure and the Americans' sheer dependence on the ingeniousness of Sir Alex Ferguson, United's return of five Premier League titles, three League Cups, the Champions League and the Club World Cup is enviable.

However, averaging a trophy each year masks how much greater United could have been. Before the Glazes saddled a previously debt-free club with hundreds and millions of pounds of debt, United was possibly the best run major football club on the planet.

A 'United not for sale' flag bellows outside Old Trafford in May 2005 Now Ferguson is gone, the parsimony of the post- Cristiano Ronaldo years has been brutally exposed. United have not won a trophy in two years - something that last happened in 1989 - and they have won two titles in six seasons since Ronaldo's £80m transfer to Real Madrid.

David Gill, whose reputation never recovered from the toxic takeover, said shortly after its completion: "The majority of fans, quite rightly, are only interested in the team being successful."

For so many, though, supporting United meant - and means - so much more than just success.

See a gallery of the Glazers' 10 years in charge of United
below  
GLAZERS AT UNITED
 Outraged United fans show their feelings towards the Glazers' imminent takeover May 2005

 United fans refer to the club's 'death' at the 2005 FA Cup final against Arsenal in Cardiff May 2005

F.C. United of Manchester is established by disenfranchised supporters following the takeover June 2005

Edwin van der Sar becomes United's first signing of the Glazer era June 2005

Joel Glazer gives a lengthy interview to MUTV, where he promises to 'communicate' with United supporters. He never communicates with them again July 2005

Ferguson meets Avram Glazer (L), Joel Glazer (2nd-R) and Bryan Glazer (R) at United's training camp in Vale do Lobo July 2005

The Glazers attend their first ever United game, the Champions League home qualifier against Degree August 2005


After telling some disgruntled United supporters to 'go and support Chelsea' in Budapest, Ferguson is subjected to vocal and fierce abuse after the home defeat to Blackburn September 2005

United are eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage for the first time in 11 years December 2005

United beat Wigan 4-0 in the League Cup final to secure the first trophy of the Glazer era February 2006

The ubiquitous Love United Hate Glazer stickers are slapped on seats at Old Trafford after a 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough May 2006

David Gill promises United fans 'two world-class signings' after Ruud van Nistelrooy is sold to Real Madrid. United instead sign young midfielder Michael Carrick and Thomas Kuszczak August 2006

Ferguson proves his genius again as, despite a slim squad, United overcome Chelsea to win their first title in four years, having been top for all but two weeks of the Season May 2007

United introduce the Automatic Cup Scheme (ACS), which forces season-ticket holders to buy tickets for cup matches June 2007

The Glazers back Ferguson in the transfer market, as United spend £59m on Nani, Owen Hargreaves and Anderson, while Carlos Texas arrives on a two-year loan July 2007

The four arrivals help United to a Premier League and Champions League double
May 2008 

Dimitar Berbatov becomes United's record signing for £30.75m September 2008

United win three trophies and join Liverpool on 18 league titles in the 2008-09 season but lose the Champions League final to Barcelona May 2009


Cristiano Ronaldo is sold for a world record £80m to Real Madrid yet the Glazers tighten the purse strings. Gabriel Obertan and Antonio Valencia arrive for £19.5m and perma-crock Michael Owen joins on a free July 2009


After the club pull out of a deal to sign Adam Ljajic from Partizan Belgrade, tension grows as United are dumped out of the FA Cup by League One Leeds United January 2010


With antipathy towards the Glazers growing, United supporters' green and gold campaign begins in the home game against Hull January 2010

Green and gold scarfs become ubiquitous at Old Trafford, intensifying the atmosphere for the victorious League Cup semi-final win over City January 2010

Chief executive David Gill is targeted and accused of hypocrisy by United fans at Villa Park February 2010

The evocative protest continues against APC Milan in the Champions League
March 2010

The returning David Beckham dons a green and gold scarf but refuses to air his support for the campaign in a post-match interview March 2010

Avram Glazer attends United's game with Liverpool in 2010 two months after the green and gold campaign begins March 2010

United fans' protests continue until the last day of the season, where Chelsea regain the Premier League title May 2010

There is a lack of investment at the club for a second successive summer, as £23m is spent on Bebe, Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling August 2010

The Glazers pay off pay off the high-interest hedge-fund £220m debt, which was accruing interest at an eye-watering 16.25 per cent November 2010

Despite making underwhelming signings, thanks to Chelsea's implosion and Ferguson's ingeniousness, United win a record 19th title, reach the FA Cup semi-final and the Champions League final May 2011

United continue to invest in youth, spending £51.9m on David de Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young July 2011

United go out of the Champions League at the group stage again and end the Season trophyless, after throwing away an eight-point lead at the Premier League summit with six games to go December 2011

The Glazers and Ed Woodward prepare to ring the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange after United shares start trading August 2012

United sign an established world-class player in Robin van Persie, whose goals lead The Reds to their 20th title April 2013

Sir Alex Ferguson announces his retirement and is replaced by David Moyer May 2013

With Ferguson gone and Moyes proving to be a disaster, United's parsimony catches up with them and they're in danger of not qualifying for the Champions League. Juan Mata is hastily bought for a club record £37.1m in an attempt to boost the club and fans January 2014

United fail to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 19 years and Moyes is sacked. The Glazers' control of the club is questioned after allowing Ferguson to anoint his successor, with the endorsement of Sir Bobby
Charlton April 2014

The Old Trafford flag is lowered to half mast after Malcolm Glazer dies May 2014

Louis van Gaal replaces Moyes and United embark on an unprecedented spending spree, forking out a British record £59.7m on Angel Di Maria, but it cannot prevent them from experiencing a second successive trophy less season for the first time since 1989 August 2014

With just two titles in the post-Ronaldo years, United plan a title tilt for 2015-16 early, as Memphis Depay agrees to join in a £25m transfer May 2015

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