Throughout the 1980s, Manchester United were forced to sit and suffer as the trophies kept coming to perennial rivals, Liverpool.
At the same time, by ’86, when Sir Alex Ferguson had arrived at Old Trafford from Aberdeen, the Reds had gone 19 years without a coveted championship crown.
Still, many at Anfield knew full well that the Manchester-based outfit 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 90s and 00s, during what can only be described as the most dominant era, winning 13 Premier League titles.
Ferguson certainly did knock Liverpool right off their f***ing perch.
Nonetheless, 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.
But amid the anarchy we have endured, the emergence of an ambitious Project 150 has piqued the curiosity of a 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 followed from Southampton to serve as technical director.
At the same time, Dan Ashworth was originally recruited from Newcastle as 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, internal ambitions boil 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, and Ratcliffe, 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.
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 15th to a top-three standing.
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.
The sum of all parts should be hugely encouraging for a United side that has been on the up this calendar year under the guidance of Michael Carrick.
Of course, there are key areas within the team that urgently need addressing this summer, particularly in central midfield.
Still, this new sporting assembly has shown it can recruit the right faces to improve the team and enhance its prospects.
While it’s impossible to tell if United have truly ‘got their act together’ just yet, the signs are fairly promising that they are on an upward trajectory again.
And if the Reds 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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