The Unforgettable Figures of History: A Tale of Two Men
At pivotal moments in history, certain individuals emerge to define an era, even if they have little control over the events unfolding around them. One such figure was Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, Iraq’s former Minister of Information, infamously nicknamed "Comical Ali" by the UK media during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Al-Sahhaf became a global figure for his wildly optimistic and often surreal press briefings as Baghdad fell into chaos. Despite the reality of rockets raining down on the city, he insisted that the situation was under control. His performances were a stark contrast to the absence of Saddam Hussein, who was nowhere to be seen. Al-Sahhaf’s front-and-center presence during the collapse of the Ba’ath regime offered a glimpse into the dysfunction and delusion that had consumed the Iraqi government.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe: A Different Kind of Frontman
Fast-forward to 2023, and another figure emerged in a rather different but equally pivotal context: Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the minority owner of Manchester United. Unlike al-Sahhaf, Ratcliffe did not use his media appearances to deny the obvious collapse of a regime—the football empire he partly owns. Instead, he was candid, if not brutal, in his critiques. He lashed out at unnamed senior players, calling them “overpaid” and “not good enough.” He also took aim at former executives Richard Arnold and Ed Woodward, dismissing Arnold as a “rugby man” who didn’t understand football and Woodward as a merchant banker unqualified to manage the club. Even Ligue 1, where his other club Nice plays, wasn’t spared, with Ratcliffe admitting he couldn’t muster the excitement to watch matches due to the “low level of football.”
The Elephant in the Room: The Glazers
Yet, amidst all these critiques, there was a notable absence: the Glazers, the American family that owns a controlling 67.9% stake in Manchester United. They were the ones who hired Arnold and Woodward, signed the underperforming players, and presided over the club’s financial decline. Ratcliffe himself warned that the club could “go bust by Christmas” due to its dire financial state, but he conveniently avoided mentioning the £700 million debt the Glazers’ leveraged buyout had saddled the club with. The reason for this silence? A non-criticism clause in the agreement that allowed Ratcliffe’s minority investment in December 2023. Legally, neither side could publicly disparage the other, and Ratcliffe seemed determined to stick to this script.
The PR Tightrope: Ratcliffe’s Delicate Dance
Ratcliffe’s interviews with British newspapers, the BBC, and Gary Neville’s Overlap podcast revealed his attempts to navigate this delicate situation. While he couldn’t directly criticize the Glazers, he hinted at their shortcomings. He described Joel Glazer as having “not a bad bone in his body” and painted the family as “old East Coast” Americans who were “very polite, very civilised, the nicest people on the planet.” But beneath this diplomatic veneer was a subtle critique: the Glazers were too nice to make the tough decisions needed to turn the club around, such as cutting a bloated workforce. Ratcliffe also revealed how distant his relationship with the Glazers was, remarking that since his investment, “we haven’t seen them since” and that they had largely retreated “into the shadows.”
A Lone Wolf in the Spotlight
To the casual observer, Ratcliffe’s recent media blitz might have seemed erratic. Within 24 hours, he veered from warning about the club’s potential bankruptcy to unveiling one of the most ambitious stadium projects in football history—a 100,000-seater mega-stadium estimated to cost £2 billion and take just five years to build. The Glazers, whose opinion carries the most weight due to their controlling stake, remained characteristically silent. They have always been reclusive, speaking publicly so rarely that Ratcliffe’s recent verbosity stands in stark contrast. The 20th anniversary of their takeover in June will likely pass without them uttering a word about the club, just as they have for the past two decades.
The Fallout: A Shield for the Glazers
Ratcliffe’s willingness to engage with the media, however, has had an unintended consequence: he has become the focal point of criticism. While most Manchester United fans hold the Glazers responsible for the club’s decline, Ratcliffe’s outspokenness has made him an easier target. His remarks about bankruptcy, stadium plans, and player performance have placed him squarely in the line of fire. By contrast, the Glazers remain hidden, their reputation as unpopular owners unchallenged by any PR campaign. Whether Ratcliffe’s strategy will shield them from further scrutiny remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: history has a way of remembering those who stand in the spotlight during times of turmoil, regardless of their control over the events unfolding around them.
