Nine years ago, Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United.
Reputed as the greatest manager to have ever managed a premier league club, Ferguson left with his head high.
United’s managerial role has proved to be disastrous for top managers in Europe, as none of them has managed to stay at the club till the end of his contract.
Man U
The Scottish football instructor retired having won 38 trophies as a Man U manager, the last being his premier league triumph in the 2012-2013 season.
Since his decamp, United are yet to find his replacement, having brought formidable managers like David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
David Moyes
United announced David Moyes as Sir Alex Ferguson’s predecessor in July 2013.
His appointment sparked different reactions from both fans and pundits, as many were adamant on whether he will fill Ferguson’s big boots.
United spent Sh79 billion on his first summer budget.
Unluckily, Moyes only saw 10 months of his three years contract as United boss, having won an FA cup and one Community shield.
In that season, United finished seventh in the premier league.
Louis Van Gaal was appointed to be Moyes’ replacement in July 2014.
In his two year spell as a United coach, the Red Devils finished inside top four once, in 2014-2015 season.
In his second and last season as United boss, the club recorded poor results and finished fifth on the table, leading to his sacking in 2016, having spent Sh32.3 billion on his transfer budget.
Van Gaal bought expensive flops including Argentine skipper Angel Di Maria, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Victor Valdes, Radamel Falcao and many others.
During his stint, Van Gaal won the FA cup, which he considers his greatest achievement as a United manager.
Jose Mourinho
United handed the bags to the ‘Special One’, Jose Mourinho, reckoning on him to end the poor spell of results at the Old Traford.
The Portuguese finished sixth on the table during his first half season as United boss.
In his first full season in charge, Mourinho helped United to finish second in the premier league table, 19 points behind the league winners and derby rivals Manchester City.
The Special One helped United heap three honors while he was in charge; one Europa league, a League cup and a Community shield.
United spent Sh45.5 billion, making it possible for the Portuguese to win the three honors as United boss.
Pressure began mounting on Jose when he lost grip of his dressing room.
Reports claimed he had crossed paths with United’s record signing, Paul Pogba. Mourinho had to leave.
The latest casualty of the axing being Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was backed with Sh46.7 billion for his transfer budget.
After failing to win a silverware for the club, he was mustered out by in November 2021, having taken United to the seventh spot of the premier league table.
Since then, the Red Devils have been surviving with caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick.
Trophy
United has not won the premier league since Ferguson’s farewell, having finished inside top four only four times out of the past nine seasons.
This has mounted pressure on the United board as they continue with their search for Ferguson’s replacement.
As search for Ferguson replacement continues, reports in Europe claim that United are now eyeing Ajax head coach Erik Ten Hag.
The Ajax manager has established his name in Europe as he turned a young Ajax team into a dreadful team in Europe.
He guided the Ajax side to the semifinals of the Champions League competition, where they were knocked out by Tottenham.
United’s managerial role has proved to be disastrous for top managers in Europe, as none of them has managed to stay at the club till the end of his contract.
Ten Hag could join Man U in a season that the club has been poised to finish out of top four spot, regardless of the sensational signings they did in the summer, having bought the adored Jadon Sancho, Rafael Varane, and Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo.