Man Utd’s new committee: Who is Sir Dave Brailsford?

Jacque Talbot

• 20 Oct 2023 05:30 CDT
• 2 min read

If Sir Jim Ratcliffe's proposed deal for Manchester United comes to fruition, he envisions the formation of a new football committee comprising himself, Joel Glazer, and Sir Dave Brailsford. As part of his ambitious £1.3 billion deal for a 25 percent stake in the club, Ratcliffe intends to collaborate closely with the current ownership and key advisors who have earned his trust.

Although Sir Dave Brailsford may not be a household name for many Man Utd fans presently, he stands poised to become an integral part of the Old Trafford setup. Born in Derbyshire in 1964, Brailsford's journey into the world of sports administration commenced in 1998 when he initially joined British Cycling in a consultative role.

Over time, he ascended to prominent positions within the body. Notably, he is celebrated for championing the 'marginal gains' philosophy, which played a pivotal role in the improvement of British Cycling's medal counts - including the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympic Games.

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In 2010, Brailsford took on a pivotal role with Team Sky, later rebranded as Team Ineos, where his team secured victory in six out of seven Tour de France championships from 2012 to 2018.

But Brailsford's career has not been without controversy. In 2018, a report by the Commons Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Committee raised concerns about Team Sky's use of drugs, including triamcinolone, in aiding Bradley Wiggins in racees- though they have consistently denied any involvement in doping, and no charges were ever filed.

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Currently, Brailsford remains in his role as Team Principal for Ineos Grenadier. In 2021, he assumed the position of director of sport for Ineos across various sports, encompassing cycling, sailing, football, rugby, and Formula 1.

Furthermore, he holds the position of director of sport at Nice and has initiated a transformation of the club since his appointment. Despite initial challenges, the Ligue 1 club has seen a successful start to the new season this team If Ineos' bid for the Red Devils is successful, it is thought that Brailsford will undertake a similar role within the football club.