Manchester United’s Old Trafford home - Source: Unsplash

Ranking Every Manchester United Manager Post-Sir Alex Ferguson

When Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement and subsequently led Manchester United to a record 20th English top-flight title back in 2013, no one could have anticipated the decline that would follow. That title was the maverick Scotsman's 13th crown of his storied Old Trafford tenure. 13 years later, it remains the club's most recent. As a result, there’s a lot of speculation about who might take up the manager mantle next.

Ruben Amorim was the most recent man to inherit the impossible job, and the Portuguese manager found out exactly how tough life as the Red Devils’ boss truly is. After a tumultuous 14-month reign, the former Sporting CP man now finds himself on the unemployment line, unceremoniously sacked after a reluctance to move away from his now-infamous 3-4-3 formation caught the ire of Director of Football Jason Wilcox and Chief Executive Omar Berrada.

Online betting sites are fully aware of United's slide this term. The popular Bovada online sportsbook makes the Red Devils a 5/1 outsider just to finish in the top four this season, let alone end their 13-year title drought. Much of that pricing is courtesy of the plight under Amorim, but where does the Portuguese manager rank in the list of United bosses post-Fergie? Let's take a look.

1 - Jose Mourinho

When the Special One arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2016, the expectation was that he would lead United back to the promised land. While that ultimately never materialised, he came closer than anyone else, even claiming a treble of sorts in his maiden campaign in charge.

Mourinho oversaw a trio of titles throughout that 2016/17 season, securing the Europa League with a 2-0 victory over Ajax in Stockholm, as well as beating Southampton in the League Cup final and winning the Community Shield with a 2-1 triumph over Leicester City.

The following season, he would lead United to a runners-up finish in the Premier League, an achievement which Mourinho himself has declared as one of his finest. Unfortunately, however, a very public bust-up with midfielder Paul Pogba triggered a rift within the dressing room in the 2018/19 season, resulting in Mourinho's sacking in December 2018. Still, he remains our pick as the most successful United manager since Fergie.

2 - Ole Gunnar Solskjær

Former United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjær was the man who took over from Mourinho, initially on an interim basis, and he immediately lifted spirits at Old Trafford. The Norwegian masterminded a stunning Champions League comeback away at tournament favourites Paris Saint-Germain barely three months into his reign, winning 3-1 in the Parc Des Princes, a result which secured him the job permanently.

In his first full season in charge, Solskjær secured a top-four finish, while in the 2019/20 season, he had the Red Devils fully involved in the title fight, ultimately succumbing to rivals Manchester City after a late-season collapse. Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there.

A miserable start to the 2021/22 season saw Solskjær unceremoniously sacked, and the Norwegian left the club after being allowed one last emotional interview on his way out. Despite a lack of silverware, we make him the second most successful United boss since 2013, and if the rumours are to be believed, he could well be on his way back to Old Trafford following Amorim's sacking.

3 - Erik Ten Hag

The end of Erik Ten Hag's Manchester United tenure was an unmitigated disaster, but there can be no denying that there were certain points throughout the Dutchman's tenure where it looked as though he had the Red Devils on their way back to the summit. The former Ajax boss took over at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022, and he managed to secure both the League Cup and the FA Cup throughout his time in charge, winning the latter with a stunning 2-1 victory against rivals and reigning Premier League dynasty Manchester City at Wembley.

With United seemingly poised to kick on following that 2024 triumph under Ten Hag, the Red Devils shockingly imploded. Just three wins throughout the opening nine games of the 2024/25 season saw the Dutchman dismissed, but have United improved in the 14 months since? We're unconvinced.

4 - Louis van Gaal

Louis van Gaal was the second man to sit in the United hotseat post-Fergie, and the Dutch icon looked to usher in a Galactico era of sorts with the signings of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao. While things wouldn't work out for either superstar, the Red Devils would secure a fourth-place finish and Champions League return in van Gaal's maiden campaign, as well as winning the FA Cup the following year. But that wasn't enough to keep the Dutchman in a job, and when Jose Mourinho became available, van Gaal was duly allowed to leave in the summer of 2016.

5 - David Moyes

David Moyes was "the chosen one," handpicked by Sir Alex Ferguson to replace him as United manager. But not only was the former - and current, funnily enough - Everton manager handed somewhat of a poisoned chalice, he was also inheriting an ageing squad, with the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Robin van Persie, and Patrice Evra all past their best, despite the 2012/13 Premier League triumph. Moyes immediately struggled, and United slumped to seventh place in the table, with the first manager of the post-Fergie era sacked before the 2013/14 season came to an end.

6 - Ruben Amorim

And finally, we have Ruben Amorim, the most recent manager of the post-Fergie era and without question the least successful. The Portuguese manager oversaw United's worst Premier League finish in 40 years last season as they collapsed to 15th place in the table. Not only that, but an embarrassing Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and a measly 38.1% - the worst of the post-Fergie era by a distance - secures his spot at rock bottom of this list.

Published by Patrick Jane
09.01.2026