The Manchester United owners profiled: Who are the Glazer family?

Next year will mark 15 years of Glazer ownership at Old Trafford, meaning a whole generation of Manchester United fans will be unable to remember life without them.

The American family have been a hugely controversial presence at the club, not least because of the hundreds of millions of debt enforced on the club's books by their takeover and their seeming refusal to engage with the fan base.

In fact, their takeover led to supporters opposed to the family forming a new club - FC United of Manchester - in 2005.

Who are the Glazers?

Manchester United were taken control of by the late American billionaire Malcolm Glazer in 2005.

Glazer, who died in 2014, spent a couple of years and hundreds of millions building his stake in the club, beginning in 2003.

The tipping point came in May 2005, when Glazer reached an agreement with shareholders J.P. McManus and John Magnier to purchase their 28.7% stake in the club, which took their controlling stake north of 50%.

Days later, after more buyouts, his holding crept above 75%, which enabled him to delist the club and move for a full takeover.

This was completed by the end of June 2005, after more chunks of shares were bought up and a squeeze-out of remaining shareholders.

The late Malcolm Glazer

The late patriarch of the six Glazer siblings who currently own all of the club's shares, Glazer (1928-2014) made his money through a variety of different business ventures.

As Nils Pratley explained in The Guardian back in 2005, "Glazer's 60-year business career [has incorporated] property, fish, fast food restaurants, local television stations and nursing homes.

"Recurring themes in Glazer's career - ones that echo in the assault on Manchester United - are his willingness to employ heavy borrowings and efforts to maximise the bargaining power of relatively small investments," Pratley continued.

Glazer bought his first sports franchise, NFL team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in 1995, making his move for Manchester United eight years later after failing with a move for MLB side the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With wife Linda Glazer, he had six children - Avram, Joel, Bryan, Kevin, Darcie and Edward - and they have been handed key appointments in his business interests, including the former Zapata business, a holding company for a number of enterprises including fishing and oil.

Certain Glazer siblings also have various appointments with the Buccaneers, as well as his property empire and charitable organisation.

All six Glazers currently serve as directors of the club, holding approximately 97% of voting power.

Avram Glazer

The eldest child of Malcolm, Avram has been co-chairman of United, with brother Joel, since the takeover in 2005.

As co-chairman, Avram has been spotted at Old Trafford on numerous occasions, including with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

He previously served as president and chief executive officer of Zapata from March 1995 to July 2009 and chairman of the board of Zapata Corporation from March 2002 to July 2009.

Interest is Manchester United as of 23 September 2019:

Class A shares: 707,613

Class B shares: 20,899,366

% of total voting power: 16.4%

Joel Glazer

As noted, a co-chairman of Manchester United with his brother Avram, Joel is is also co-Chairman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Like Avram, Joel has also been known to attend matches from time to time.

His initiation to Manchester United fans came back in 2005, when he gave a lengthy - and to date his only - interview, with MUTV.

In addition to his role with Manchester United, Joel is a member of the NFL Finance, International and Media Committees.

Interest is Manchester United as of 23 September 2019:

Class A shares: 1,707,614

Class B shares: 21,899,366

% of total voting power: 17.2%

Bryan Glazer

A director of Manchester United, Bryan is also the co-chairman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He also serves on the NFL's Media O & O Committee, as well as on the board of directors of the Glazer Children's Museum.

Back in 2005, he joined brothers Joel and Avram in meeting club legend Sir Bobby Chalrton as the Glazer family took control of Manchester United.

Interest is Manchester United as of 23 September 2019:

Class A shares: /

Class B shares: 19,899,365

% of total voting power: 15.5%

Kevin Glazer

Currently the chief executive officer of Glazer Properties, Kevin made headlines earlier this year when a string of national newspapers reported that he was preparing to offload his stake.

Reports emerging from inside the club suggested this was not the case, however.

Interest is Manchester United as of 23 September 2019:

Class A shares: /

Class B shares: 20,899,365

% of total voting power: 16.3%

Darcie Glazer Kassewitz

Also serving as president of the Glazer Family Foundation, Malcolm's only daughter Darcie was in the news earlier this year when it was revealed she was using a chunk of her Manchester United shares as collateral for a loan.

Interest is Manchester United as of 23 September 2019:

Class A shares: 603,806

Class B shares: 20,899,365

% of total voting power: 16.4%

Edward Glazer

Last but by no means least, Edward holds a couple of important roles in addition to Manchester United, also serving as co-Chairman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and CEO of US Property Trust.

Interest is Manchester United as of 23 September 2019:

Class A shares: /

Class B shares: 19,503,172

% of total voting power: 15.2%