How does Erik ten Hag compare to Man Utd’s other managers since Alex Ferguson? | OneFootball

Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to become Manchester United’s ninth manager in the dugout since Alex Ferguson retired, including caretaker managers, following the departure of Erik ten Hag.

ten Hag has been sacked following an eighth-placed Premier League finish last season and a poor start to this campaign which saw United lose four of their first nine league games.

But he took United’s trophy haul since Ferguson left to five, not including Community Shields, having won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during his time at the club.

Here’s every manager to have taken charge of a United game since Ferguson left in 2013, and how they fared…

David Moyes

Games: 51

Win percentage: 52%

Trophies: Community Shield

Premier League finishes: 7th (at the time of departure)

Moyes was Ferguson’s chosen successor at the club but he failed to last a season and was sacked after ten months and 51 games in charge. United had won the title the season prior and their significant drop off came as a surprise, with Ferguson’s glorious tenure at the club still fresh in the minds of supporters. Defeats to Everton and Stoke were among the worst of his time in charge.

Ryan Giggs (caretaker)

Games: 4

Win percentage: 50%

Trophies: None

Premier League finishes: 7th

Giggs took over in a caretaker role until the end of the season following the departure of Moyes, managing to win two and draw one of his four games but was not given the job on a permanent basis the following season.

Louis Van Gaal

Games: 103

Win percentage: 52%

Trophies: FA Cup

Premier League finishes: 4th, 5th

Van Gaal was named as the permanent successor to Moyes, and despite criticism for his style of play during his time at the club, guided the Red Devils to a fourth-placed finish in his first season in charge before leading them to the FA Cup in his second season. But the Dutchman was sacked shortly after winning silverware having finished fifth in the Premier League and been knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage.

Jose Mourinho

Games: 144

Win percentage: 58%

Trophies: Europa League, League Cup, Community Shield

Premier League finishes: 6th, 2nd

United’s next step was to bring in proven winner Jose Mourinho. A 3-2 win over Southampton at Wembley saw his side lift the League Cup in his first season in charge which was followed by winning the Europa League later that season by beating Ajax. Their Premier League form was mixed, finishing sixth, but the following season saw United record their highest finish since Ferguson by finishing runners up to Manchester City, though they failed to make it past the round of 16 stage in the Champions League, losing to Sevilla. He was sacked midway through his third season after winning just seven of the first 17 games.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Games: 167

Win percentage: 54%

Trophies: None

Premier League finishes: 6th, 3rd, 2nd, 7th (at the time of departure)

Solskjaer was initially appointed on a caretaker basis following Mourinho’s exit but would go on to become the club’s longest serving manager since Ferguson. He guided the club to sixth in his first season and then third in his first full season in charge despite finishing with the same points total as the previous year. A second placed finish in the 2020/21 season meant it was the first time United had achieved back-to-back top-four finishes since Ferguson’s exit. But despite United’s league achievements, Solskjaer failed to bring a trophy to Old Trafford and when the league form dipped in his fourth season, he was sacked with the team in seventh.

Michael Carrick (caretaker)

Games: 3

Win percentage: 66%

Trophies: None

Premier League finishes: N/A

Carrick took over for three games following Solskjaer’s exit, winning two and drawing one.

Ralf Rangnick (interim)

Games: 29

Win percentage: 37%

Trophies: None

Premier League finishes: 6th

United took the unusual step of placing respected German coach Ralf Rangnick in interim charge with the view to a consultancy role afterwards to help guide the club back to where they wanted to be. His time in the dugout was unsuccessful, winning only 11 of his 29 games in charge and regularly criticising his team. He would not take up the consultancy role and left altogether.

Erik ten Hag

Games: 128

Win percentage: 54%

Trophies: League Cup, FA Cup

Premier League finishes: 3rd, 8th, 14th (at the time of departure)

Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge looked as though he was guiding United back on track, winning a trophy and qualifying for the Champions League. But a disastrous 8th placed finish in his second year, despite winning the FA Cup, heaped pressure on him and he was sacked after a dismal start to this campaign with the team in 14th in the league and having lost four of their nine league games.