A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS

MAY 2005 The Glazers, headed by Malcolm (right), buy out Irish shareholders John Magnier and JP McManus to control 57 per cent of the club and become majority stakeholders. Days later, they increase their stake to 75 per cent.

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JUNE 2005 United are delisted by the Glazers following their takeover, with the club plunged into debt of around £700m, leading to the first major protests from fans. Malcolm's sons - Joel, Bryan and Avram Glazer - visit Old Trafford and are forced to leave in the back of a police van to avoid a baying mob of fans.

JUNE 2009 United sell Cristiano Ronaldo (left) to Real Madrid for a world record fee of £80m, but even that cannot stop the club's debt rising from £660m to £716m, while a refinancing of that debt, incurring greater interest, sparks more protests from militant fans.