Since Sir Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford in 2013, Manchester United has struggled with a severe identity crisis that has impacted the club over the past decade. Once a dominant force in English football, the team is now seen as a case study in instability and poor management.
Over the last 13 years, the club has gone through 10 different managers, both permanent and interim. This is a drastic shift from the stability and success experienced during Ferguson’s 27 years as manager.
The Glazers, along with INEOS, have sought a leader to restore United’s former status. However, they have instead cultivated a cycle of hope and disappointment, with new appointments promising a turnaround but usually yielding minimal results.
This has resulted in not only a decade of poor performance on the pitch but also a loss of identity and the winning culture that once made the club a formidable opponent in European football.
Managerial Changes: A Constant
Since Ferguson’s departure, the turnover in management at Manchester United resembles a revolving door rather than a planned succession. In this time, the club has had ten different managers.
Notable figures include David Moyes, Ryan Giggs, Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Michael Carrick, Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Ruben Amorim. Some of these managers brought short-lived successes; for instance, van Gaal won an FA Cup, and Mourinho captured the Europa League and other trophies.
Even though Solskjær initially inspired hope as interim manager before becoming permanent, and Erik ten Hag won both the FA Cup and League Cup, none reached the level of success in the Premier League or Champions League that had set the standard during Ferguson’s time.
Interim managers like Giggs, Carrick, and van Nistelrooy had little opportunity to implement their strategies. Ralf Rangnick was brought in for tactical modernization but left without making significant changes. Most recently, Ruben Amorim was dismissed in January 2026 after just 14 months, marking another instance of this ongoing trend.
Comparing with the Ferguson Era
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