Manchester United's New Era: Managers Come and Go, Mourinho Is the Best Following Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United have gone through numerous managerial changes ever since Sir Alex Ferguson departed Old Trafford in 2013. None of the high-profile managers appointed since then have managed to restore the club to its former glory, the era where challenging for and lifting the Premier League and Champions League titles was a standard, expected target every season.

David Moyes was the first manager brought in to replace Ferguson. He only delivered the Community Shield at the very start of his tenure, before failing to maintain consistent team form. Moyes was dismissed in April 2014 after United collapsed to finish 7th in the Premier League table.

Louis van Gaal arrived in the summer of 2014 with an established reputation, fresh off guiding the Netherlands National Team to the World Cup Semi Finals. Across 103 matches in charge he recorded 54 victories, for a 52.4% win rate. Van Gaal delivered the 2016 FA Cup trophy, but was sacked just two days after lifting that silverware after United failed to qualify for the Champions League.

José Mourinho holds the highest win percentage of all permanent Manchester United managers since Ferguson retired. Over 144 matches he registered 84 wins, giving him a 58.3% win rate. Mourinho also delivered three trophies for the club: the Europa League, English League Cup, and Community Shield.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over the United managerial position in December 2018. The former club striker recorded 91 wins from 168 matches, a 54.2% win rate. He guided United to runner-up finishes in both the Premier League and Europa League, but was unable to win any silverware before departing Old Trafford in November 2021.

Following Solskjaer's exit, Ralf Rangnick was appointed as interim manager. His record was far from impressive: only 11 wins from 29 matches, for a 37.9% win rate. The club then appointed Erik ten Hag in 2022.

Ten Hag initially raised hopes when he delivered two trophies: the 2023 English League Cup and 2024 FA Cup. He recorded 70 wins from 128 matches, for a 54.7% win rate. However, United's erratic, inconsistent performances led to him being relieved of his duties in October 2024.

Ruben Amorim was next brought in as permanent manager, but his tenure was also short-lived. He only secured 24 wins from 63 matches, posting a 38.1% win rate. This stands as the lowest win record of any permanent United manager in the post-Ferguson era.

Michael Carrick held the United managerial role across two separate spells. During his short caretaker stint in 2021, he recorded two wins and one draw from three matches. When appointed permanently in January 2026, he oversaw 32 matches with 15 wins, 8 draws and 9 defeats.

Carrick posted a 46.9% win rate during this second permanent spell. However, a run of poor results at the start of the 2026/2027 season saw United slump down to 18th place in the Premier League. The club officially ended Carrick's contract on 12 November 2026.

When reviewing the records for all permanent managers post-Ferguson, Mourinho remains top of the list with his 58.3% win rate. Solskjaer and ten Hag both recorded win rates above 54%, while Moyes and van Gaal finished just marginally above 52%.

In terms of silverware, United have lifted a total of seven trophies in the post-Ferguson period when including the Community Shield. Mourinho is the largest contributor with three trophies, followed by ten Hag with two, while Moyes and van Gaal each delivered one trophy apiece.

These figures show that Manchester United's problems are not purely caused by frequent managerial changes. The club has simply failed to find the right figure who can successfully combine consistent league form, cup competition success, and build a sustainable long-term playing foundation.

Ever since Ferguson retired, Manchester United have experimented with multiple different approaches, hiring managers with vastly varying personalities, backgrounds and experience.

José Mourinho stands as the most successful manager of this era when measured by both win percentage and total trophies won, while Ruben Amorim oversaw one of the worst periods in the club's recent history.

Mauricio Pochettino has now been handed the task of ending United's long title drought. His appointment as the club's new manager comes with the expectation that he can finally return Manchester United to genuine top flight contention.