Malcolm Glazer, the head of the family that owns Manchester United football club, has died aged 85.
The news was announced by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the American football club he owned for nearly 30 years.
The club said he passed away on Wednesday morning and described him as a “pioneering thinker” and “dynamic business leader”.
Mr Glazer, who lived in Palm Beach, Florida, bought Manchester United in 2005 – sparking a number of protests in the city.
After that, the football club won five Premier League titles (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013), as well as the 2008 Champions League title.
But the club had a disastrous season this year, culminating in the departure of manager David Moyes.
Sky’s Sports Correspondent Paul Kelso said Mr Glazer’s passing is a “significant moment” for Old Trafford.
Mr Glazer was a “hugely, hugely divisive” and “very unpopular” figure in Manchester, he said.
He said there were some violent protests after his leveraged buy-out, in which he borrowed a huge sum of money to buy the club and paid off the interest with its profits.
The club had no debts before the takeover and now owes nearly £400m.
Kelso said he does not think Mr Glazer’s death will have much of an impact on Manchester United because he had been ill for some years and the club is being run by his family.
Mr Glazer once owned 100% of Old Trafford, but then passed his holding to his sons and daughter.
They own 90%, with the other 10% floated on the New York stock exchange.
Manchester United said in a statement: “The thoughts of everyone at Manchester United are with the Glazer family tonight … Staff at Manchester United extend deep and sincere condolences to them all at this difficult time.”
After his death was announced, fans’ tributes – both positive and negative – started to pour in on forums and social media.
Mosley909, a poster on one Manchester United fan site, wrote: “Sad for those who love him and always sad when someone dies, but can’t say I’ll be shedding any tears.”
Another poster, Andy McDonald, tweeted: “Don’t understand these ‘fans’ disregarding Malcolm Glazer, our success was just as much his too. Forever a part of the MUFC family, R.I.P.”
Mr Glazer leaves behind his wife Linda, six children and 14 grandchildren.
From family store to billionaire, The Story Of Malcolm Glazer
- 1928: Born to a Lithuanian family which emigrated to the United States and grew up in Rochester, New York State
- 1943: First cuts his teeth in business via the family’s store, selling watch parts following the death of his father
- 1989: Having transformed his small inheritance into a growing business empire, attempt to buy motorcycle firm Harley-Davidson ends in failure
- 1995: Pays $192m for Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL team
- 2003: Buccaneers win the Super Bowl and Glazer buys first shares in Manchester United
- 2005: Glazer family complete controversial £790m takeover at Old Trafford – yet a large part of that sum is borrowed, prompting protests from fans
