The World's Biggest Cash Machine

Manchester United, the Glazers, and the Struggle for Football's Soul

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About this listen

'Jaw-dropping revelations . . . The incredible story of [Man United] laid bare in new book' – Daily Mail

'A gripping tale, full of insight. Blackhurst is an enormously talented writer' – City A.M.

From Chris Blackhurst, the former Editor of the Independent, comes The World's Biggest Cash Machine, a gripping and tightly reported account of how the Glazers, owners of Manchester United, became the most maligned figures in the Premier League, and how they changed the beautiful game forever.

Manchester United’s supporters span the globe and cross generations. But, with few exceptions, they are united in their anger with the American family who bought their club in 2005, plunging it into record levels of debt. The Glazers’ reign has become synonymous with the financialization of football, and has coincided with fan protests and a decline of Manchester United’s fortunes on the pitch . . . if not on the balance sheet.

But what defines this secretive family, and do these astute businessmen deserve the opprobrium they receive? In this captivating account, informed by interviews with key figures behind the scenes, journalist and commentator Chris Blackhurst charts the gripping story of the world’s biggest football club – as well as exploring the wider transformation of the Premier League into a playground for billionaire owners.

'Brilliant . . . [a] very insightful account' – Simon Jordan, talkSPORT presenter and author of Be Careful What You Wish For

Chris BlackhurstChris BlackhurstMacmillan

Business

Corruption & Misconduct

Football (Soccer)

Politics & Government

Professionals & Academics

Sports

Thought-Provoking

Inspiring

Money

Business Corruption & Misconduct Football (Soccer) Politics & Government Professionals & Academics Sports Thought-Provoking Inspiring Money

Critic reviews

Jaw-dropping revelations . . . The incredible story of [Man United] laid bare in new book

A gripping tale, full of insight. Blackhurst is an enormously talented writer

Packed with insights and details that will both amaze and appal you. This is the inside story of how the City of London really operates and if it doesn't make you angry, you need to check your pulse (Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland and Butler to the World, on Too Big to Jail)

Blackhurst’s tale would make an exciting novel. But alarmingly, this is a true story, carefully researched and told with gusto (Baroness Patience Wheatcroft, former editor of The Sunday Telegraph, on Too Big to Jail)

Highly entertaining . . . told with pace, gusto, and a strong sense of moral outrage (The Critic Magazine, on Too Big to Jail)

[An] illuminating study of the Glazer family's troubled ownership of Manchester United (Spear's)

If you want to understand how Manchester United got into its current total mess, you should read Chris Blackhurst's timely new book on the Glazers (Michael Crick)

Brilliant . . . [a] very insightful account (Simon Jordan, author of Be Careful What You Wish For)

Most relevant

The Munich Tunnel is not the players tunnel!!!
A bit more research would have been appreciated.
Love United Hate Glazer