Former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has stressed the entire football structure must be working effectively for the club to achieve success.
Van der Sar played for the Red Devils between 2005 and 2011, winning four Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League.
The former goalkeeper rejoined Ajax after his retirement as the Dutch giants’ marketing director in 2012, before later serving as the club’s chief executive from 2016 to 2023.
During his time in the role Van der Sar had been linked with a return to Manchester United in an executive role.
Van der Sar resigned from the position in May last year amid turbulence at Ajax after a poor run of results, just weeks before he was admitted to hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
The 54-year-old, who believes he has now fully recovered, highlighted in an interview with Sky Sports the importance of Man United’s new football structure working effectively together to help boost the club’s fortunes.
It’s of utmost importance that all things are connected,’ Van der Sar said. ‘I experienced at Ajax also when one radar, one little thing is not working, it can have an effect down the line.
‘I think that happened also at United. I think the structure has been quite clear, with the Glazers as the ownership. I think the football structure and the CEO position has been changed also a few times.’
Van der Sar noted that the football structure established by Ineos needs to work in tandem with new head coach Ruben Amorim to give him the best chance of success.
‘Of course, a manager probably wants to have one or two players coming in January,’ Van der Sar added.
‘I think the most important thing is to have the line with the technical director, the football director, that they can know which situation will be needed to replace, to change, to add.
‘I’m sure that discussion will be there, but in the meantime, a manager needs to perform and needs to win games because the position where they are now is not great.’
Van der Sar’s comments come amid further change at Man United following the shock sacking of sporting director Dan Ashworth.
Ashworth was relieved of his duties in a meeting with United CEO Omar Berrada after the 3-2 defeat by Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Saturday night.
