Former Manchester United chief Ed Woodward lands new job, 18 months after he left Old Trafford... and just a day after the impending exit of his successor Richard Arnold was confirmed

Former Man United CEO Ed Woodward has found his next job, 18 months after he left Old Trafford.

Woodward was an unpopular figure during his decade-long spell working at United between 2012 and 2022 - with fans often criticising his decisions over player recruitment and accusing him of prioritising the club's commercial performance over its success on the pitch. 

Now 52-year-old is preparing for a new chapter following his departure in April 2022, after the announcement he is set to join AI sports firm Sentient Sports.

Woodward has been appointed as a Strategic Advisor and Non-Executive Board Member for the company, which aims to revolutionise sport by providing AI technology to create analytics and content.

He said he saw 'tremendous potential' in the company, which he called a 'cutting edge' figure in sport. 

'I am excited to be joining the SentientSports board and working alongside Ryan [Beal, co-founder] and the team. 

'The blend of sports and AI technology at SentientSports is truly cutting-edge. With some of the industry's leading AI talents involved, I see tremendous potential for innovation and expanding global digital fanbases.

'I'm thrilled to be part of such a dynamic company with the potential to revolutionise the global digital sports landscape.'

Sentient Sports is a relatively new company, having been founded in 2020, claiming it has a mission to shake up sports team's player recruitment systems by 'integrating risk assurance, simulation, and forward-looking analytics'. 

It claims it has 'earned the trust' of more than 30 professional teams - including from the Premier League - and that their AI models create a 'paradigm shift in the way sports stakeholders engage and operate with data'.

Woodward's handling of Man United resulted in numerous protests from fans at United calling for his departure. 

Supporter groups often help up banners demanding his exit during a period of turbulence for United that saw Woodward attempt to guide them through a new era following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2012.

However, protests and uproar took a step too far in 2021 when demonstrators attacked his family home in Cheshire to vent their fury at the club's involvement in the European Super League. 

Woodward's new position comes just a day after the club announced that his successor at United - Richard Arnold - was leaving next month, coinciding with the arrival of new stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

United’s top lawyer Patrick Stewart will take over on an interim basis with one of Ratcliffe’s key aides, Ineos Sport chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc, viewed as a potential permanent replacement.

As previously reported by Mail Sport, Ratcliffe’s impending investment will give the British billionaire a major say in the composition of United’s executive and management teams, with Arnold the first casualty. 

Arnold has been instrumental to United’s strong commercial growth over the last decade, securing a £900million kit deal with adidas and £60m shirt sponsorship with Qualcomm earlier this year.

However, he was widely criticised over the club’s handling of the Mason Greenwood saga which led to the England striker joining Getafe on loan following a United U-turn.