Since Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United in 2013, the club has gone through four permanent full-time managers before appointing current manager Erik ten Hag. Last Word on Football assesses each manager’s tenure and grades them based on their success.
David Moyes was the first manager appointed after Ferguson’s departure. He had achieved relative success with Everton but struggled to handle the demands of managing the biggest team in the country. Despite positive results initially, a string of defeats and early exits from competitions led to his dismissal after just one season. Moyes’ only major trophy was the Community Shield.
Louis van Gaal came next and brought in some exciting players in his first season, but his tenure started poorly with a home defeat and a lackluster run of results. However, he improved and secured a fourth-place finish and FA Cup success in his second season. But a group-stage elimination in the Champions League and a fifth-place finish in the league led to his departure.
Jose Mourinho’s appointment had the potential for success, but his tenure was marked by two major trophies – the League Cup and Europa League – in his first season, masking the team’s poor performance in the Premier League. Mourinho’s second season saw an improvement with a second-place league finish, but defeats in Cup competitions ultimately led to his sacking.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a club legend who played under Ferguson, initially impressed as an interim manager, leading to his permanent appointment. He achieved a third-place finish in his first full season and reached the semi-finals of multiple competitions. In his second season, the team finished second in the league and came close to winning the Europa League. However, a poor start to the 2021/22 season led to his dismissal.
Ten Hag, the current manager, is still being evaluated. In his first season, he won the League Cup, reached the FA Cup final, and secured a third-place league finish. Although there are concerns about the team’s performance in the current season, Ten Hag has the highest point-per-game record among his predecessors and has built a solid foundation for future success.
Overall, Manchester United has struggled to replicate the success they had under Ferguson. None of the managers since his departure have been able to achieve the same level of sustained success, with some experiencing short and disappointing tenures. The hope is that Ten Hag can bring back the glory days and establish a period of success for the club.
