Manchester United now seeking seventh manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired
The Scot was in charge at Old Trafford for 27 years.
Sir Alex Ferguson was manager at Manchester United for 27 years, but the club are now looking for a seventh full-time boss since the Scot retired in 2013.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the record of those to have followed Ferguson.
David Moyes (June 2013-April 2014)
Moyes was seen as the ideal Ferguson successor and handed a six-year contract but, after 11 years at Everton, he lasted just 10 months at Old Trafford, paying the price for a dismal campaign in which United failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1995. After years of further struggle at various clubs, Moyes rekindled his career at West Ham, leading the club to Europa Conference League glory in 2023 before stepping down 12 months later.
Louis van Gaal (May 2014-May 2016)
The tough-talking Dutchman delivered the FA Cup in his second season, but United’s fifth-placed finish in the Premier League, coupled with criticism of his side’s ponderous style and lack of goals, led to his departure. Van Gaal returned to management in a third stint as Holland’s head coach in 2021, but quit after their exit from the 2022 World Cup finals and last year rejoined former club Ajax as an adviser.
Jose Mourinho (May 2016-December 2018)
The much-decorated Portuguese initially breathed new life into the club, winning a cup double in 2017 and securing a runners-up finish in the Premier League in 2018. However, his defensive brand of football did not delight fans and his abrasive character, with constant rumours about problems with Paul Pogba, affected the dressing room and results suffered. Mourinho was sacked after two and a half years in charge at Roma in January and after being appointed as Fenerbahce boss in June, oversaw the Turkish club’s 1-1 Europa League draw with United in Istanbul last week.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (December 2018-November 2021)
The former United striker transformed the mood at Old Trafford after initially taking charge on a caretaker basis, winning 14 from 19 games to earn the job permanently. Solskjaer led United to third in 2019-20 and runners-up a year later, when they also lost the Europa League final on penalties. But despite the progress made, the 1999 treble hero paid for a series of poor performances when he lost his job in November 2021.
Ralf Rangnick (December 2021–May 2022)
The German was drafted in as interim boss with a view to transitioning to a two-year consultancy, but never took up the extended role after accepting the post of manager of the Austria national team. Rangnick guided the club to a sixth-place finish with their lowest Premier League points tally of 58 while all the time talking up the overhaul required to revitalise the club.
Erik ten Hag (July 2022-October 2024)
Dutchman Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford with a formidable reputation having guided Ajax to a hat-trick of Eredivise titles having impressed the club’s hierarchy with his long-term vision. He ended the club’s six-year wait for a major trophy when they lifted the Carabao Cup in February last year before leading them to a top-three finish and Champions League qualification. However, a miserable second season blighted by injuries and faltering form saw United exit Europe after the group stage and finish eighth in the Premier League, their worst ever return. They did beat rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final to temper that but made a disappointing start to this season, where they sat in 14th place following defeat by West Ham when Ten Hag departed.
