Ranking all of Manchester United's managers in the post-Alex Ferguson era

Erik ten Hag finds himself under mounting pressure at Manchester United, with last season’s FA Cup victory temporarily masking the pain of their worst league finish in Premier League history as his side continue to struggle. The football betting initially had United to secure a Champions League spot, but after home thrashings at the hands of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, the tables have turned for the Dutchman.

The Red Devils face yet another season without a Premier League title, extending their wait to an 11th year. United last lifted the league trophy in 2013, under the guidance of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired as one of the greatest managers in football history.

Ferguson’s tenure at Old Trafford brought 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, and numerous domestic cups, cementing his legacy as a manager who could consistently deliver success at the highest level. His departure left a colossal void, one that no successor has been able to adequately fill.

Ten Hag seemed like the man to turn things around when he arrived in 2022, winning both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in his first two full seasons. However, league inconsistency has kept United from competing with Manchester City and Arsenal, raising questions about his approach.

How does Ten Hag compare to the five other permanent appointments who’ve tried to fill Ferguson’s shoes? In this article, we rank each of United’s permanent managers since Ferguson’s departure, evaluating their successes and failures.

Table of Contents

Ralf Rangnick

Ralf Rangnick took over as interim manager midway through the 2021/22 season, but his stint at Old Trafford was far from inspiring.

Despite his reputation as a tactical innovator, Rangnick struggled to connect with the players and fans, and results reflected his inability to impose a clear vision on the team.

His reign ended without any major achievements, and he left a squad in disarray for his successor to sort out.

David Moyes

Tasked with the daunting job of succeeding Ferguson, David Moyes faced an uphill battle. Inheriting an ageing squad, Moyes had a few memorable wins, including against Olympiacos in the Champions League. However, he was ultimately out of his depth and was sacked before completing his first season.

Louis van Gaal

Louis van Gaal followed Moyes in 2014 with a strong pedigree, having managed some of the biggest clubs in Europe, and reaching the Champions League final as recently as 2010.

During his time at United, he spent significant sums to bring in world-class talent, including Ángel Di María and Radamel Falcao, though both flattered to deceive.

The Dutchman delivered an FA Cup in 2016, which was United’s first major trophy in the post-Ferguson era. However, his pragmatic approach and inconsistent league results failed to excite the fans, and his inability to secure Champions League football ultimately led to his dismissal at a time when the club were still far more ambitious.

Erik ten Hag

Arriving in 2022, Ten Hag quickly set about transforming the team, securing both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in his first two seasons. Yet, his inability to produce consistent league form has kept United from mounting a genuine title challenge, and questions remain about whether he is the right fit to take the club to the next level.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

A United legend as a player, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed as interim manager in 2018 following the sacking of José Mourinho, and his initial success earned him the job on a permanent basis.

Solskjaer reconnected the fans with the club and brought a feel-good factor back to Old Trafford, with famous victories over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and impressive league runs. He also convinced Cristiano Ronaldo to return to United from Juventus and assembled a team that was finally capable of challenging for the league.

The issue was that the Norwegian’s inability to deliver trophies ultimately let him down. He reached the Europa League final in 2021 but lost to Villarreal on penalties, and his tenure ended with United still searching for success.

José Mourinho

Few managers have been as successful at United since Ferguson’s retirement as José Mourinho. The “Special One” delivered a Europa League and a Carabao Cup in his first season, followed by a second-place league finish in 2017/18.

Despite the success, tensions with the club’s hierarchy and a difficult third season led to his departure, with the budget appearing to be lacking to sign players capable of challenging Manchester City’s centurions – missing out on the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Renato Sanches and Antoine Griezmann.

That said, Mourinho’s accomplishments remain the high point of the post-Ferguson era.