Throughout the 1980s, the trophies kept coming to Manchester United’s perennial rivals, Liverpool.
At the same time, by 1986, when Sir Alex Ferguson had arrived at Old Trafford from Scottish side Aberdeen, United had gone 19 years without a coveted championship crown.
Despite this, many at Anfield knew full well that the Manchester-based outfit still had a prestige and juggernaut-like potential just waiting to be awoken.
“If that lot down the East Lancs Road ever get their act together, we’re in trouble”. These were the words uttered by Liverpool’s chief executive at the time, Peter Robinson.
His warning could not have proved any more prophetic, as that is exactly what transpired.
United would indeed go on to get their act together and leave Liverpool floundering in their wake in the 1990s and 2000s, during what can only be described as the most dominant era, winning 13 Premier League titles and, ultimately, in Ferguson’s words, “knocking Liverpool off their perch”.
Since the great man retired in 2013, United have once more found themselves in the midst of a title drought, with numerous managers trying to restore this iconic club to its past glories.
Nonetheless, under the parasitic ownership of the Glazer family, coupled with inadequate decision-making and incompetent leadership at the boardroom level throughout the majority of the 2010s and early 2020s, it has ultimately failed.
However, amid the anarchy we have witnessed, the emergence of an ambitious Project 150 has piqued the curiosity of a perennially frustrated supporter base.
Ineos investment and sporting control at Manchester United.
In December 2023, we received word that Ineos CEO Jim Ratcliffe had completed a protracted deal to become a minority co-owner at Old Trafford, initially investing in a 25% stake at the club, and, crucially, immediately taking over sporting control.
Ratcliffe would be supported early on by Ineos colleagues such as Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc, who were placed on United’s board and held interim roles at the club in 2024, as sweeping changes were made at all levels.
During a difficult restructuring and cost-cutting period, Omar Berrada was hired from Manchester City to become the club’s new permanent CEO. Jason Wilcox was lured from Southampton to serve as technical director.
At the same time, Dan Ashworth was originally recruited from Newcastle as a brand-new Sporting Director before being sacked in December 2024, with Wilcox eventually assuming the role.
Christopher Vivell, a respected German former scout and technical director, is now the club’s director of recruitment.
These changes have resulted in some improvement from the club at the board level, a much-improved hit rate in the transfer market, and a tentative improvement in talent development and scouting.
Project 150 and long-term strategy for success.
Project 150 is the name coined by club executives for the long-term strategic plan to restore the club to the top of English football in time for its 150th anniversary in 2028.
It is ambitious, symbolic, and, depending on who you ask, either inspiring or wildly optimistic.
At the heart of it all, Project 150 boils down to one common goal: win the Premier League by 2028, whilst also targeting a first-ever Women’s Super League title by the same timeline.
Internally, it’s framed as a deadline-driven rebuild, a way to refocus the entire club on a fixed point rather than drifting through endless transitional periods like we have seen this past decade or so.
The project, driven by Berrada, Wilcox, Ratcliffe and Brailsford, was first presented to staff in September 2024 as a unifying vision for the club’s future.
Under Project 150 sits a sub-plan called “Mission 21” to deliver a 21st league title. The focus is on elite performance culture, sports science, and marginal gains, with heavy influence from Brailsford’s cycling background.
The project is also about fixing deeper issues, such as streamlining football operations, changing the internal culture after years of inconsistency, and aligning men’s, women’s, and academy pathways, and can be considered a top-to-bottom reboot.
These plans could well come to fruition.
Of course, as in any industry, a clear timeline forces accountability, undoubtedly focusing minds amongst the United hierarchy. And whilst critics have called the project unrealistic and fanciful, it is, in fact, a bold statement of intent.
We have seen improvements both on and off the field this season in M16, and the club has gone from finishing 15th in the league last season to being 3rd in March this term.
That is an impressive swing, whatever way you look at it.
Shrewd purchases such as Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Senne Lammens and Benjamin Sesko have built on the good work of signings like Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt, who were brought in the year before by the newly assembled recruitment team.
We have so far seen a drop-off from Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, despite heavy investment, and champions-elect Arsenal look far from infallible under Mikel Arteta.
Not forgetting the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle dropping down the table into relative obscurity.
The sum of all parts should be hugely encouraging for a United side that has been on the up this calendar year under interim head coach Michael Carrick.
And despite a major managerial situation still to be resolved, there is a good squad of players there now, with a renewed sense of energy around Carrington.
Of course, there are key areas within the team that urgently need addressing in the upcoming summer transfer window, particularly in central-midfield and on the left flank.
Still, this new sporting assembly has shown so far that it is capable of recruiting the right faces to improve the team and enhance its prospects.
While it’s impossible to tell if United have truly ‘got its act together’ just yet, the signs are fairly promising that they are on an upward trajectory again.
And if the North West giants do come good and arise from their slumber, then the rest of the league should be worried, as this behemoth of a football club might not be as far off as we think.
What are your thoughts on Man United’s ambitious plans to win a 21st league title by 2028? Let us know in the comments or across our social channels.
Photo by mrogowski_photography via depositphotos.com.
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