Manchester United have confirmed that Jean-Claude Blanc has officially stepped down from his role as a director of the club. However, the influential executive will continue to play a significant role in shaping United’s future in a new capacity.
Blanc, who currently serves as CEO of Ineos Sport, has been heavily involved at Old Trafford since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.3 billion investment in the club. He temporarily served as interim CEO and has worked closely with Sir Dave Brailsford on a range of structural and operational changes, including the ongoing transformation of the Carrington training complex.
Despite stepping down from the board, Blanc will now serve
as Chief of International Football Relations and Special Advisor to the Manchester United Board.
In this new role, he will focus on strengthening the club’s global football relationships, particularly with governing bodies such as FIFA, UEFA, and the European Club Association (ECA), where he is a board member. He will also continue to contribute to the UEFA-ECA joint venture.
In a statement, Manchester United said:
"Jean-Claude Blanc has stepped down from his position as a director of Manchester United Football Club. However, he will continue to have an active role in the management of the club in his new position as Chief of International Football Relations and Special Advisor to the Board."
Blanc, a respected figure in European football, previously served as CEO of Juventus and held senior marketing roles at Paris Saint-Germain. He remains CEO of Ineos Sport, where he continues to influence multiple sporting ventures globally.
Blanc’s continued involvement is seen as vital to Manchester United’s ambitions on and off the pitch, particularly in navigating the complex landscape of international football governance and partnerships.
