Assessing Manchester United’s Managerial Struggles Since Ferguson

omidbasir- The league table and record books reflect a stark reality: Ruben Amorim is statistically the least successful manager in Manchester United’s history since the 21st century, and arguably well before that. During the 2024-25 season, he oversaw the club’s lowest league finish since their relegation in 1974, placing 15th. His win percentage of 38.7% is inferior to any manager since Frank O’Farrell in the early 1970s. For comparison, David Moyes, who holds the second-lowest win percentage in the post-Ferguson era, achieved just over 52%.

While Moyes faced a monumental challenge in succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson and received minimal support from the then-chief executive Ed Woodward, who was still learning the ropes, Amorim was afforded both time and resources to initiate his project. In the summer of 2025, only Liverpool and Arsenal surpassed United’s net spending, which included investments in three attackers—Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko—totaling £208 million.

Moreover, Amorim had a more extensive preparation period than most of his predecessors, given that he was not competing in European football during his final six months. Despite this advantage, his team secured a disappointing number of points during an easy run of fixtures in the concluding weeks of his tenure. Notably, they lost at home to a 10-man Everton and drew against relegation-threatened teams such as Wolves, West Ham, and Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

There were, however, some memorable moments under Amorim, including a long-awaited victory at Anfield, a thrilling win against Manchester City, and a journey to the Europa League final. Unfortunately, the latter was rendered futile when United lost to Tottenham, missing out on a return to the Champions League.

David Moyes, introduced as ‘The Chosen One’ during Ferguson’s farewell match, did not manage to replicate his predecessor’s success. While Moyes enjoyed respect in the English game and from Ferguson, his decade at Everton did little to prepare him for the challenges at United. His lack of awareness regarding the club’s stature was underscored when, during a pre-season tour of Australia, he garnered an overwhelming fan response that took him aback.

Moyes inherited a squad that had dominated the Premier League under Ferguson but was in dire need of rejuvenation. Compounding his challenges was the simultaneous departure of long-standing CEO David Gill, leaving Ed Woodward, inexperienced in such a role, to navigate the situation. Moyes had a problematic summer transfer window, signing only Marouane Fellaini on deadline day after a chaotic pursuit of Ander Herrera.

His inaugural season was marred by a poor start, with three losses in the first six league games. The lone highlight was a run to the Champions League quarter-finals, yet the season ended in turmoil as United finished seventh, leading to Moyes’ dismissal in April after a heavy loss to Everton.

Despite his struggles, Moyes has seen every subsequent manager at United face their own difficulties, allowing him to rebuild a reputation as a capable mid-table manager.

The interim appointment of Ralf Rangnick, a respected sporting director and proponent of ‘gegenpressing’, initially sparked optimism. However, many players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, were perplexed by his hiring. Rangnick’s early success, with three wins in his first four matches, was soon overshadowed by a lack of respect from the dressing room due to his long absence from coaching.

Ultimately, United exited both the Champions League and FA Cup early and ended the league season disappointingly, with only 58 points—an all-time low in the Premier League era until Amorim took charge. Rangnick’s candid assessment of the club’s dire state, likening it to needing “open heart surgery,” highlighted the challenges at hand.

Unlike Moyes, Louis van Gaal brought a strong resume to Manchester United, having previously managed Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and led a young Ajax team to Champions League glory. However, his best achievements were in the past, and his methods felt outdated. While there were notable victories, including four league wins over Liverpool and an FA Cup triumph, Van Gaal’s tenure was largely remembered for uninspiring football lacking excitement, prompting concerns amongst the club hierarchy about ticket renewals.

His eccentric personality sometimes alienated players, notably record signing Angel di Maria. Ultimately, Van Gaal learned of his impending dismissal right after winning the FA Cup final, marking a bittersweet end to his time.

Erik ten Hag’s arrival initially seemed promising. Midway through his first season, United had won the Carabao Cup, eliminated Barcelona from the Europa League, and were performing well in the league. However, a historic 7-0 defeat to Liverpool marked the beginning of a downward trajectory. Despite substantial spending, Ten Hag’s second season ended with a disappointing eighth-place finish and an early exit from the Champions League, although a surprise FA Cup final win over Manchester City temporarily saved his position.

Ten Hag’s dismissal came four months after his contract extension, and he has yet to recover his career, facing termination at Bayer Leverkusen shortly into the 2025-26 Bundesliga season. Nevertheless, his accomplishments position him as the second-most successful coach since Ferguson in terms of trophies.

Many fans believed that Jose Mourinho should have succeeded Ferguson, fearing that his assertive personality would flourish rather than falter in Ferguson’s shadow. Mourinho finally secured the role in 2016 and was backed with significant signings, including Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. His first season was a mixed bag, with a sixth-place league finish contrasted by winning both the Carabao Cup and the Europa League.

With Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic joining the following season, United achieved their best points total since Ferguson, accumulating 81 points, but still fell short to Pep Guardiola’s formidable City team.

Consequently, Mourinho’s discontent over inadequate transfer support led to a tumultuous third season. Public disputes with key players like Pogba and Luke Shaw contributed to a toxic atmosphere, culminating in his eventual sacking.

After the egos of Van Gaal and Mourinho, United sought a manager who truly understood the club, leading to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment. Initially, he was meant to be a stopgap, but he made a spectacular start by winning 13 of his first 15 matches, including a remarkable Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite a challenging follow-up year, Solskjaer managed to guide United to third and second-place league finishes, reaching the Europa League final along the way. However, an unfortunate series of losses, including a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Liverpool, culminated in his dismissal following a 4-1 defeat at Watford.

In retrospect, Solskjaer’s early tenure, characterized by thrilling counter-attacking football while the fans chanted ‘Ole’s at the wheel’, stands out as the most positive period among the seven managers since Ferguson, as he remains the only one to secure consecutive top-four finishes in the past eleven years.