Carrying the ball in the background: Jean-Claude Blanc potentially joining Manchester United
Football is an ever-changing world, especially at the very pinnacle. The potential appointment of Jean-Claude Blanc for Manchester United’s open Sporting Relations CEO role has stirred up some anticipation. With a proven track record, and references as the ‘Lionel Messi’ of sporting relations, this could be an appointment that changes the timeline for Manchester United and breaks them out of the strange cross-roads they currently find themselves in.
“He is a bit like the Lionel Messi of sports business, it is not only a question of expertise but of interpersonal skills. He brings his vision, his network, his calm, his experience.”
OGC Nice CEO, Fabrice Boquet
Blanc began his career assisting in the organisation of large-scale sporting events, such as the Winter Olympics, the Tour de France, and the French Open, just to name a few.
Following this, the Harvard graduate made his way into the footballing world, something Manchester United fans will be more intrigued about. This is where he pulled Juventus back from the ashes after the infamous Calciopoli case, where they were relegated to the Italian 2nd division, the Serie B. Instantly gaining promotion with the support of Blanc, the side managed to finish 3rd and 2nd in successive seasons following their return.
After his spell at the Old Lady, attention for the Frenchman was noticed back home, as PSG looked to become a commercial giant with the backing of Qatari Sports Investment. Spending 12 seasons at the club, and seeing 28 trophies land in the hands of the French Giants, Blanc left to work with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS Group. The soon-to-be owners of 25% of Manchester United, and the entire sporting department of the club are looking to make changes, and the first could very well be the addition of Jean-Claude Blanc, one of the most steady hands in the game.
With experience in changing culture, revitalising sporting visions and an understanding of global relations, Jean-Claude Blanc seems a perfect fit to turn around the struggles of Manchester United, an issue seen from top to bottom.
The appointment of Blanc would be well-received, but he needs support around him, something he would undoubtedly get with his relations with other footballing minds and the strong relationship he has with SJR. Other names are floating about that could prove to be useful additions to a potentially strong backroom, Paul Mitchell, the ex-Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig Head of Recruitment, as well as Dougie Freedman, currently Head of Recruitment at Crystal Palace.
The big task for Blanc is refreshing the football vision at the club, replacing businessmen and other mediocre appointments by the Glazer family who have majority ownership of Manchester United. With huge changes in multiple areas, Blanc’s expertise means things could be on the turnaround in the upcoming months, though there is a big job ahead. Turning Manchester United into a modern giant in football will be a gargantuan task, but there aren’t many out there as fit as Jean-Claude Blanc.
