A Retrospective on Manchester United (Post Ferguson Era)
Since Ferguson's departure, Manchester United have faltered. Despite spending more than anyone else from 2012 to 2022, United have not had a strong title challenge in the league since 2013 and gained just four trophies. Manchester City has won the Premier League five times, and Liverpool broke their title duck in 2020 whilst winning the Champions League too. Five permanent managers have entered Old Trafford, being the man to bring back glory to United but failed to materialize. Not to mention United fans' anger towards the Glazers family, who have controlled United since 2005. This is a retrospective of Manchester United after the Ferguson era.
THE CHOSEN ONE & VAN GAAL (2013-2016)
Following United's title win in 2013, United appointed David Moyes as United's new manager. Moyes was highly recommended by Ferguson himself despite Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho being linked to take the job. Moyes was successful during his eleven-year stint at Everton but had not won silverware nor managed a team similar to United's stature. He also had to improve the team significantly with Paul Scholes retiring and six players being thirty or over, including Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick.
Moyes made significant changes to the coaching staff, bringing in his coaching staff from Everton. Letting go of key United staff in Mike Phelan, Ferguson's assistant and Rene Meulensteen. Changes also occurred in the boardroom. Chief Executive David Gill resigned, with Ed Woodward taking his post. The summer transfer window was unsuccessful, with Marouane Fellaini their only acquisition on deadline day. Having been linked to sign the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Cesc Fabregas, Toni Kroos and Leighton Baines.
United had a poor campaign in the 2013/14 season, finishing seventh and not qualifying for European football. They were knocked out in the quarterfinals of the Champions League and lost twelve times in the league. Losing twice against Liverpool, Manchester City, and Everton, as well as home defeats to West Brom, Tottenham and Sunderland. A highlight of Moyes' tenure was United's infamous 2-2 draw against Fulham in January 2014, where United made 81 crosses while Fulham made just four. Moyes was relieved of his duties in April, and Ryan Giggs finished the season as caretaker manager.
Louis van Gaal was appointed during the off-season, and United backed him with investment in the playing staff. Signing Angel Di Maria, Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera and Daley Blind. United finished fourth in van Gaal's debut campaign, qualifying for the Champions League but still suffered embarrassing defeats, including losing 5-3 against Leicester City and 4-0 against third-tier team MK Dons in the League Cup. Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Anthony Martial came in the following season, and United won silverware in winning the FA Cup, their first since 2013. However, United missed out on qualifying for the Champions League, finishing fifth and was knocked out in the group stages before suffering elimination in the Europa League to Liverpool in the last 16, costing van Gaal his job.
CRANKY JOSE & OLE'S AT THE WHEEL (2016-2020)
Jose Mourinho was eventually appointed United boss in June 2016 and was backed heavily. Spending close to a hundred and fifty million pounds on Paul Pogba, their record signing at eighty-nine million pounds, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly. Mourinho's debut campaign in the league was a disappointment, finishing sixth. However, they were successful in cup competitions. Winning the EFL Cup and the Europa League, beating Ajax Amsterdam in the Final.
More additions came in Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof, for a combined total of one hundred and forty-five million pounds. The 2017/18 season saw United's best league performance of the post-Ferguson era. Finishing second with eighty-one points. However, they finished nineteen points behind winners Manchester City. They were knocked out early in the Champions League and lost the FA Cup Final against Chelsea.
The 2018/19 season was the beginning of the end for Mourinho at United. United's transfer business was minimal as Fred and Diego Dalot were their only incomings. There was also a growing dispute between the United squad and Mourinho, particularly with Luke Shaw and Paul Pogba, who allegedly had a fractured relationship with the Portuguese. United had a poor start to the season, losing three in their first ten games. Mourinho would eventually be sacked in December, losing 3-1 against Liverpool at Anfield. Leaving United sixth in the table with 25 points.
Former United striker & Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed caretaker manager and embarked on a twelve-game unbeaten run in the league. He got the job permanently in March, following United's comeback win against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16. United stumbled to the end of the season, finishing sixth, thirty-two behind champions Manchester City.
United sort to improve the defence, which they did, signing central defender Harry Maguire and full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Signing Maguire was hefty, as the Englishman became the most expensive defender signed at eighty million pounds. The 2019/20 season saw stability at Old Trafford in years. United finished third with sixty-six points, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial having a great partnership scoring forty-five goals. Another highlight was the emergence of Bruno Fernandes. A winter window signing, Fernandes became an instant hit, scoring twelve times. The season concluded in July, following the Covid pandemic, putting the league season on hold from March. The season resumed in June with played behind closed doors.
WHEELS START TO FALL OFF (2020-2022)
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The 2020/21 season was the year for United to push on. Experienced striker Edinson Cavani arrived on a free transfer while Donny van de Beek and Alex Telles also coming in. United's start to the league campaign did not go to plan, losing three times in their first seven games. Which included a 6-1 home defeat to Tottenham. They lost three more times that season as they finished with seventy-four points. They were twelve points behind Manchester City, who won the league.
Their only source of success came in the Europa League after being knocked out in the Champions League group stages. Beating Real Sociedad, AC Milan, Granada and Roma on their route to the final, they faced Spanish side Villarreal in Gdansk, Poland. Despite taking the lead, they lost the final on penalties, with goalkeeper David de Gea missing the decisive spot kick. The season was overshadowed by the failed introduction of the European Super League, led by the Glazer family and other executives like John Henry of Liverpool and Fiorentino Perez of Real Madrid. Sparking protests, particularly across the UK, with protesters crashing into Old Trafford.
Before the 2021/22 season, Jadon Sancho was signed for over seventy million pounds, whilst Raphael Varane also arrived from Real Madrid. The biggest signing was Cristiano Ronaldo returning to United, twelve years after he first left. Ronaldo had a strong campaign, scoring twenty-four goals. United's season as a whole was a disaster. They finished sixth, losing twelve times and having three managers over the season. These defeats included a 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool, a 4-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield, a 4-1 away defeat to Watford and a 4-0 away defeat to Brighton.
OPTIMISM & UNCERTAINTY (2022-Present)
Dutch manager Erik ten Hag was appointed after, following the disappointment. Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro and Antony came in for over two hundred million pounds. As of now, United looks set to qualify for the Champions League, sitting fourth in the league table. They also ended their six-year trophy drought, winning the EFL Cup and are in the FA Cup Final.
Behind the scenes, Richard Arnold is the new Chief Executive at United, taking the role after Ed Woodward departed last season. Uncertainty still shadows United with a potential takeover on the cards, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim being the parties most interested. Potentially ending the Glazers' time at United, having brought the club in 2005.
The past decade has come and gone for Manchester United. Showing how fast things go in the world of football. At that time, Arsenal were qualifying perenially for the Champions League. Manchester City's rise was in its infancy, and Liverpool barely qualified for European football. Now, Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League after a six-year absence, Manchester City now reigns supreme domestically with a potential treble-winning season on the cards under Pep Guardiola and Liverpool has won the Premier League and made it to three Champions League finals since 2018.
The management at Old Trafford has to rethink from when Ferguson was in charge. The football landscape has changed since 2013 and managers now have shorter stints than before. A clear plan between the management and the football staff is a start. Managers today are less involved in the daily running, as the sporting director is now a liaison between the football staff and management. Also, having a recruitment strategy and sticking with it after years of spending under different managers. The best-run football clubs are the ones that perform on the field, with Real Madrid, Napoli and Manchester City being examples.
United can recover. After all, football runs in cycles, so they can conquer again. Whether it's under the Glazers or new ownership. However, they will have to walk before they can run.
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