Ranking all Manchester United managers since 1992: from worst to best

After Sir Alex Ferguson's extraordinary 26-year tenure, Manchester United have become akin to many modern giants, frequently shifting on the managerial front. The Scottish legend set a bar that remains unapproachable, yet eight permanent managers in the Premier League era have left distinctly contrasting legacies, from dismal failures to glorious cup triumphs.

8. Ruben Amorim

Regarded as the worst permanent manager in the club's Premier League history, the Portuguese coach became a victim of his devotion to a 3-4-3 formation that the squad was ill-equipped to execute. While part of the blame lies with INEOS, who insisted on his appointment mid-season instead of a full pre-season, Amorim's inflexibility proved costly.

In his inaugural season, the Red Devils plummeted to 15th place in the league— the club's worst position in 51 years. An embarrassing exit at the hands of lower-league Grimsby compounded matters, and the manager's candid remarks in press conferences only deepened the crisis. Despite the summer's £200 million investment that initially hinted at progress, a tactical switch to a back four in December could not save him, leading to his departure with the lowest win percentage among permanent managers since Frank O'Farrell in 1972.

7. David Moyes

Although Moyes did not boast a catastrophic win rate, the weight of expectation quickly crushed him. Reports emerged of his instructing Rio Ferdinand to play like Phil Jagielka, coupled with signings from his old Everton players, indicative of a mindset ill-suited to Manchester United's stature.

The ageing squad left by Ferguson lacked depth, and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward floundered in the transfer market. Early defeats to Chelsea, Manchester City, and West Brom quickly eroded fan confidence, culminating in a humiliating exit from the Champions League after a dismal loss to Olympiacos. While the club allowed him time, Moyes was sacked as soon as their Champions League hopes vanished, leaving behind low standards that United has yet to recover from.

6. Michael Carrick

The verdict on Carrick's stewardship is still out. His return to the helm coincided with a gentle schedule following Amorim's European disaster, allowing him to simply align players with their preferred roles.

However, his first full season has been challenging, with a solitary victory over newly-promoted Ipswich leaving United languishing in 12th place despite summer investments of £150 million. The pressure on Carrick is mounting, and he has yet to convince that he can deliver consistent results at the elite level.

5. Erik ten Hag

A win rate of 55% and two captured cups may sound successful, yet underlying issues loom large. Under Ten Hag, the club's transfer policy faltered, with the purchase of Antony for £86 million epitomising a spree that included Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, and Andre Onana.

Communication struggles with players have been highlighted by Fred's recent sharp criticisms. Yet Ten Hag has shown tactical prowess in preparing the team for individual fixtures, exemplified by their FA Cup final victory against Manchester City. Nonetheless, exuberant highs were often overshadowed by catastrophic lows, like the 7-0 defeat to Liverpool or the 6-3 drubbing in the Manchester derby.

4. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

After the toxic atmosphere of the Mourinho era, Old Trafford desperately required a psychological reset. Solskjaer's main achievement was restoring a sense of positivity in the dressing room, amassing 91 wins in 168 games.

In two full seasons, Solskjaer finished third and second in the league, regularly overcoming top opponents, including that memorable comeback against PSG. However, he remained labelled as the eternal second, with four semi-final failures haunting his tenure, and the team's imbalanced returned with the high-profile re-signing of Cristiano Ronaldo. The 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool underscored the tactical chasm between Solskjaer and the elite coaching class.

3. Louis van Gaal

Following Moyes' failure, the club opted for the experienced Dutchman, who had previously managed Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and the Netherlands national team. However, Van Gaal arrived in Manchester already past his prime.

An opening day defeat to Swansea set alarm bells ringing. He instilled a style of overly academic, slow football that drew fans' cries for more daring play, but he remained resolute in his methodical build-up. Nevertheless, he did secure a top-four return to the Champions League and claimed the club's first trophy post-Ferguson—the FA Cup—before handing over the reins to Mourinho.

2. Jose Mourinho

The arrival of 'The Special One' inevitably brought considerable demands, yet the Portuguese delivered concrete results. He guided the team to Premier League runners-up behind Pep Guardiola's City (a campaign Mourinho hailed as one of his greatest achievements).

Mourinho also orchestrated a cup triumph spree, securing the League Cup, the Europa League, and the Community Shield. He expertly managed the departure of veteran Wayne Rooney and maximised a mid-level squad. However, the cost of success was a dressing room rife with conflict; incongruities with the hierarchy, falling out with Paul Pogba, and public criticism of Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial left a lingering legacy of toxicity.

1. Sir Alex Ferguson

Undeniably the number one. A benchmark that defined the club's greatness in the modern era.

Summary table of the managers' rankings