Manchester United have struggled to maintain managerial stability since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, with eight permanent managers taking charge of the club during the Premier League era.
Despite the remarkable success Ferguson enjoyed during his 26-year reign at Old Trafford, none of his successors has managed to replicate his achievements, with several appointments ending in disappointment.
A ranking published by Planet Football on Thursday, assessed the performances of the eight permanent managers, highlighting their achievements, shortcomings and overall impact on the club.
At the bottom of the ranking is Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim, who struggled to establish his preferred playing style and guide United towards consistent performances.
8. Ruben Amorim
Amorim was ranked the worst of United’s eight permanent managers following a difficult spell at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese manager struggled to make his preferred 3-4-3 formation work with the players available to him, while United’s 15th-place finish in his first season represented the club’s lowest league position in 51 years.
Despite significant investment in the squad during the following summer, results remained inconsistent, and his public criticism of the club’s hierarchy further strained his relationship with the management.
He eventually left with the worst win percentage of any permanent United manager since Frank O’Farrell in 1972.
7. David Moyes
Moyes was appointed in 2013 as Ferguson’s successor after an impressive spell at Everton but struggled to cope with the expectations associated with managing Manchester United.
Although his overall winning record was not particularly poor, disappointing results against Chelsea, Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion quickly increased pressure on him.
United also suffered a disappointing Champions League campaign, narrowly overcoming Olympiacos before being eliminated by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
His tenure ended in April 2014 after the club failed to secure qualification for the Champions League.
Moyes lasted just 10 months at Old Trafford despite initially signing a six-year contract.
6. Michael Carrick
Carrick enjoyed an impressive return to Manchester United’s dugout, winning 12 of his first 17 matches and guiding the club to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification.
His early success earned him a permanent two-year contract in May 2026.
However, his first full season proved difficult, with United struggling to maintain consistency despite significant spending in the transfer market.
Injuries, defensive weaknesses and concerns over recruitment contributed to the team’s poor performances.
Carrick was eventually dismissed on November 12, 2026, after United recorded just three victories in 15 matches this season.
He finished his permanent managerial spell with 15 wins in 32 matches, representing a 46.9 per cent win rate.
5. Erik ten Hag
Dutchman Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford with an impressive managerial reputation following successful spells at Ajax and other European clubs.
He won two trophies during his time at United, including the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
His team also produced several impressive performances, including a memorable FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
However, expensive recruitment decisions, inconsistent performances and concerns about his relationship with players affected his reputation.
The signing of Antony for £86m became one of the most criticised transfer decisions of his tenure.
Despite winning silverware, Ten Hag was dismissed in October 2024 after a disappointing start to the 2024/25 campaign.
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4. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Former United striker Solskjaer brought renewed optimism to Old Trafford after replacing Jose Mourinho in December 2018.
His biggest achievement was restoring a positive atmosphere within the squad while improving the team’s performances.
Under the Norwegian, United finished third and second in consecutive Premier League seasons and recorded memorable victories, including a comeback win against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
However, his inability to win major silverware remained a major weakness.
United reached four semi-finals during his tenure but failed to win any of them before losing the 2021 Europa League final to Villarreal.
The return of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021 also created tactical challenges, while a humiliating 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool further intensified pressure on Solskjaer.
He was dismissed in November 2021.
3. Louis van Gaal
Van Gaal was appointed in 2014 following Moyes’ departure, bringing considerable experience from managing major European clubs, including Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The Dutchman helped United return to the Champions League and won the 2016 FA Cup, the club’s first major trophy after Ferguson’s retirement.
However, his possession-based approach and cautious style of football attracted criticism from supporters.
Despite improving United’s league position and securing silverware, Van Gaal was dismissed in May 2016, just two days after winning the FA Cup.
2. Jose Mourinho
Mourinho enjoyed one of the most successful post-Ferguson managerial spells at Manchester United, winning three trophies during his 31-month tenure.
The Portuguese manager delivered the Europa League, League Cup and Community Shield in his first season, restoring silverware to Old Trafford.
He also guided United to second place in the Premier League during the 2017/18 campaign, finishing behind Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
However, his confrontational management style eventually created tensions within the dressing room.
Mourinho had disagreements with several players, including Paul Pogba, Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial, while his relationship with the club’s hierarchy also deteriorated.
He was dismissed in December 2018, leaving behind a divided dressing room and a difficult situation for his successor.
1. Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson remains Manchester United’s most successful manager, having transformed the club into one of the biggest forces in world football during his 26-year reign.
The Scottish manager won 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League trophies, among numerous other honours.
His 38 major trophies at Old Trafford established a remarkable standard that subsequent managers have struggled to match.
Ferguson also developed several generations of successful players, including the famous Class of ’92, while building teams capable of competing for domestic and European honours.
His final Premier League title came in the 2012/13 season before he announced his retirement.
Since his departure, United have struggled to find a manager capable of restoring the consistency and success that defined his era.
Source: Punch · Gilbert Ekugbe
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