Can Erik ten Hag succeed where other Manchester United managers have failed?

The Red Devils are still searching for consistency and a return to their former glories

Tom White
Thursday 21 April 2022 11:20 BST
Comments
Jose Mourinho, centre, during his final game in charge against Liverpool
Jose Mourinho, centre, during his final game in charge against Liverpool (PA Archive)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Erik ten Hag will be the latest Manchester United manager to attempt to find success in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Without a permanent boss since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s exit in November, the Old Trafford giants initially worked under caretaker Michael Carrick before Ralf Rangnick took over on an interim basis for the rest of the campaign.

United have been interviewing with a view to appointing their new permanent manager before the summer to aid their much-needed rebuild, with Ten Hag chosen as the man to lead the club forward.

The impressive Ajax boss is looking to wrap up a third Eredivisie title before moving to Old Trafford on a three-year deal, which includes the option of a further year.

Ten Hag takes over at the end of the season after Ralf Rangnick’s spell as interim manager, with the club still searching for consistency and a return to their former glories.

Here, we look at the records of United’s managers since Ferguson retired in 2013.

David Moyes

David Moyes lasted just 10 months of a six-year contract (Martin Rickett/PA)
David Moyes lasted just 10 months of a six-year contract (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Archive)

Played 51: Won 27, Drew 9, Lost 15

Win rate: 53 per cent

Trophies: Community Shield, 2013

Took just one game to win a trophy, the Community Shield against Wigan, as Ferguson’s hand-picked successor. There was little else to celebrate, though, as he failed to even see out the first of the six seasons on his contract. He was sacked after 10 months, with Ryan Giggs finishing the campaign as caretaker manager. Moyes struggled in subsequent spells with Real Sociedad and Sunderland but the ex-Everton boss has rebuilt his reputation across two spells with West Ham.

Louis van Gaal

Louis van Gaal signed off an otherwise disappointing spell with an FA Cup win (Nick Potts/PA)
Louis van Gaal signed off an otherwise disappointing spell with an FA Cup win (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Archive)

P103: W54, D25, L24

Win rate: 52 per cent

Trophies: FA Cup, 2016

United’s previous Dutch boss never truly won over the Old Trafford faithful, even if his recent cancer diagnosis has brought an outpouring of affection. A dreadful winless start against Swansea, Sunderland, third-tier MK Dons and Burnley gave way to an improvement and Van Gaal signed off with an FA Cup win, beating Crystal Palace in extra time, but his win percentage was the lowest of the post-Ferguson era until Rangnick’s spell in charge.

Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho, centre, during his final game in charge against Liverpool (Peter Byrne/PA)
Jose Mourinho, centre, during his final game in charge against Liverpool (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Archive)

P144: W84, D32, L28

Win rate: 58 per cent

Trophies: <strong>Europa League</strong> 2017, League Cup 2017, Community Shield 2016

By win percentage and trophy haul, Mourinho is United’s most successful manager since Ferguson – successful in 58 per cent of his games, with a runner-up finish in the league, and adding a League Cup and Europa League double in 2016-17 having emulated Moyes by winning the Community Shield in his first game. His, though, was an erratic and ill-tempered spell, with a defensive style of play and fallings-out with players leaving the fans cold.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

P167: W91, D37, L39

Win rate: 54 per cent

Trophies: None

The much-loved former United striker proved almost the inverse of his predecessor, with a fluid and attacking style of play but inconsistent results on the field. A stunning spell as caretaker, winning 14 games out of 19 after replacing Mourinho, deservedly earned him the job on a permanent basis but he came nowhere near emulating that 74 per cent win rate from then on. He left his job in November after United won just three of his last 10 games and conceded 15 goals in the last six, the first United manager since Frank O’Farrell in the early 1970s not to add to the club’s trophy cabinet.

Ralf Rangnick

Ralf Rangnick took the reins on a temporary basis (Nick Potts/PA)
Ralf Rangnick took the reins on a temporary basis (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Wire)

P24: W10, D9, L5

Win rate: 41 per cent

Trophies: None

Michael Carrick’s three games as caretaker before the appointment of an interim manager were a curious interlude. Rangnick was tasked with seeing out this season before moving into a consultancy role with the club and began with five games unbeaten, but while United have lost only five games under his stewardship, they have drawn far too many – including one against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup which led to a disappointing exit on penalties.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in