THE GLAZERS’ ownership of Manchester United has been a point of controversy for almost two decades.
Ever since the American family took charge of the Red Devils there have been fan protests, with many supporters fearing that the club has moved away from its traditional local values.
The Glazers completed their takeover of Manchester United in 2005Credit: AP:Associated Press
And others took the radical step of forming a new team entirely, with FC United of Manchester currently plying their trade in the Northern Premier League.
Who are the Glazers?
THE American tycoon Malcolm Glazer acquired Manchester United as he looked to expand his business empire on both sides of the Atlantic.
Glazer acquired ownership of United in a £790m takeover by gradually buying out shareholders between 2003 and 2005.
He had a net worth of £3.19bn when he died in 2014.
Here’s a profile of the Glazer family and their various business ventures:
AVRAM GLAZER, 58
Known as Avie, the eldest child of Malcolm and Linda Glazer has been co-chairman of United, with brother Joel, since 2005.
His earlier business career included being chairman and chief executive of the Zapata Corporation, which was founded by George W Bush.
Some United fans have taken to wearing their original colours of yellow and green in protestCredit: AFP
JOEL GLAZER, 48
As well as his involvement with United, Joel is co-chairman,with brothers Bryan and Edward, of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NFL franchise the family bought in 1995.
Under their tenure, the Bucs won their first Super Bowl in 2003 and opened a new stadium where home team touchdowns are marked by cannons firing from a 103-foot replica pirate ship.
BRYAN GLAZER, 54
Also a former Zapata executive.
Takes control of a lot of the day-to-day running of the NFL team and had a big role in the design and construction of the Raymond James Stadium.
In 2015 made a $4million contribution to setting up the Bryan Glazer Jewish Community Center in Tampa.
KEVIN GLAZER, 56
Co-chairman of First Allied Corporation, the real estate company which is the foundation of the family’s fortune.
He’s also the director of a banking firm, a commercial refrigeration business and the Houlihan’s restaurant chain.
DARCIE GLAZER KASSEWITZ, 50
Executive vice-present of First Allied Corporation.
She is co-president and main driving force of the Glazer Family Foundation which established a Children’s Museum in Tampa and does a lot of philanthropic work in the city, much of it linked to the Bucs.
EDWARD GLAZER, 48
Co-president of the Foundation.
The Glazers are known as supporters of Donald Trump, but although Ed hosted a fundraiser for Trump and donated $250,000 to his inaugural committee, but also gave $5,400 to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Cashed in £30m of United shares in December 2014, barely six months after father Malcolm’s death.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
