With Success Comes Hate

Manchester United, a team beloved by so many fans across the globe. The Red Devils are icons of the game, always fielding teams mixed with experience, youth, and star power. Their success during the Sir Alex Ferguson tenure is unmatched, and with their last Premier League title in 2011, they overtook Liverpool FC as the most successful club in Premier League history. Manchester United has now become one of the largest global brands, as the team’s image has been cemented into the global economy due to its continued domestic and foreign success. In July, Manchester United topped Forbes list of most valuable sports brands in the world, but were marginally overtaken recently by the New York Yankees mostly thanks to the strengthening of the US dollar.

Last season, even before the players of Manchester United secured their 19^th premier league victory, they also found their way to the top of another table-a much more concerning table. Manchester United was voted the most hated company in the UK in March 2011. In a survey of 1000 UK adults, 26% said that they hated Manchester United even more than the despised budget airline RyanAir, who came in second at 23%. The other companies found on the list are the usual suspects, big banking and oil companies, but it is quite intriguing as to how a sports team, such a well-loved one as well, heads the rest.

Are Manchester United hated for their business practices? Are they hated because customers are unsatisfied or disappointed with their experience and relationship with the team? No, that does not seem to be the case, as we must analyze the situation with the perspective that Manchester United is first and foremost a sports team, and then a company. Why they are hated so fiercely is a direct result of their domestic success and domination. Manchester United may have the biggest crowds week in and week out and the highest success rate in recent years, but that has alienated many other teams and their supporters across England. When dissected a step further, the survey revealed that in both London and North-west England, they are hated by 31%, which makes sense as the team’s strongest rivals can be found in the two regions.

This hate seems to stem from rival’s envy of the success Manchester United has found in the recent era, which makes it quite unfair for the team to carry the label of the most hated company in the UK. Yes, the team does have its issues concerning the motives and operations of management (Glazer), but it is clear that they are not hated because of their business behavior. While reasons for hating big business such as banks for their bonus culture and oil companies for their high prices are fair, Manchester United are being punished simply because they are the best at what they do. As an Arsenal fan, can’t say that I’m complaining!

Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1371080/Manchester-United-hated-UK-company.html