Manchester United is not a club with a historically high manager turnover. Ferguson led the Reds to countless glories for decades. However, things have changed, and Manchester United have had seven ‘permanent’ managers since winning the league in 2013. With the current head coach excluded, this is how the post-Ferguson Man U managers rank from best to worst.
1. José Mourinho
Mourinho might not have been quite as ‘special’ as Manchester United were hoping. However, he was the best of the post-Ferguson Man U managers in terms of what he delivered over his two full seasons in charge. Manchester United won the League Cup and Europa League and qualified for the Champions League in both seasons. The Red Devils also finished second, which was one of their best league campaigns since winning the title.
So, the big question is: should Man United have sacked the special one? The toxic atmosphere that emerged during a frustrating third-season slump was a familiar story. Nevertheless, Mourinho might have merited a little more time because none of his successors fared any better.
2. Louis van Gaal
Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United teams had a degree of tactical discipline and a clearer possession-heavy soccer identity. The Red Devils finished fourth and fifth during his reign. Louis van Gaal won the FA Cup for Manchester United, and his teams had a degree of consistency with his rigid philosophy.
Yet, Manchester United sacked Louis van Gaal after winning the FA Cup. That sacking was slightly dubious, mainly because Manchester United fell fractionally short of Champions League qualification. With one more point on the table, Louis van Gaal might have remained in the Red Devils’ hot seat for longer.
3. Ole Gunnar Solskjær
Solskjær was one of the more popular Man U managers, and a hero of the club’s treble-winning team. Although initially a temporary appointment, he was the longest-serving of the post-Ferguson Man U managers. His fast-paced counter-attacking soccer blueprint yielded more consistent Premier League results with third and second finishes. Man U also reached a Europa League final, which they lost on penalties.
However, things turned sour for Solskjær after signing Ronaldo. Solskjær had to change how his team played to fit Ronaldo into the side, which exposed vulnerabilities. A series of heavy defeats followed, and Solskjær departed Old Trafford. It was a good example of how Man United persistently sign top-class players who don’t fit into their sides.
4. Erik ten Hag
Ten Hag won the League Cup and FA Cup for Manchester United across two full seasons. His first season was encouraging, with the Red Devils finishing third. Yet, Man United’s league form was utterly lacklustre thereafter, slumping to eighth.
A dismal start to Ten Hag killed him off at Old Trafford. Ten Hag delivered silverware Solskjaer could not. However, he ranks fourth among the post-Ferguson Man U managers because his team’s league campaigns lacked stability.
5. David Moyes
Moyes only lasted one season in the Old Trafford hot seat. He inherited a team of champions, but there was little transition investment that was needed for an ageing squad. However, Moyes completely changed the backroom staff he inherited.
The results were not good for Manchester United as the Red Devils finished seventh during his tenure. Consequently, Manchester did not qualify for European soccer. Nor did Man Utd win any domestic cups to make up for a lackluster league campaign.
6. Ruben Amorim
Amorim was a Manchester United manager firmly committed to a trademark three-at-the-back 3-4-3, but he did not inherit a squad well suited for such a playing system. His reign deteriorated into a debacle with the Red Devils slumping to 15th in his first season. Man U showed better form in Europe, but lost to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
Things only got slightly better the season after. The Red Devils were in the top half of the table after his last match. However, they were a long way off the pace in terms of title-challenging form after spending £200 million during the summer transfer period. Consequently, Amorim did not complete a full season as Manchester United head coach with a 38.1% win rate across all competitions.
End Of My Post-Ferguson Man U Managers Ranked Rant
So, Mourinho and Van Gaal were the best post-Ferguson Man U managers for what they delivered across two full seasons. A lack of structural alignment and flawed player recruitment, for which the head coaches weren’t entirely to blame, has compromised all permanent Manchester United managers in more recent years. Manchester United has lost the unified, elite soccer structure it once had.
