When legendary Manchester United Alex Ferguson announced he would be retiring in May 2013, it shocked almost everyone. Only a select few — including his wife Cathy and the Glazers — knew the announcement was coming. But even though it left United fans in a state of shock, there was still a sense of optimism that Ferguson’s legacy would continue. All they needed was someone to come in and pick up where the Scotsman left off, with David Moyes being the “Chosen One” to do it on a six-year contract. Little did United fans know, though, that this was the beginning of the end.
Manchester United’s 12 Years of Decline Post-Alex Ferguson
Over 12 years of sharp decline have led Manchester United to a dark place. During this time, they’ve spent £1.43bn, had two chief executives, gone through nine managers, and even brought a 36-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo back for a short stint. And what do they have to show for it? Not very much.
The biggest issue has been the Premier League. Since 2013, the Red Devils haven’t been part of a serious title challenge once. José Mourinho somehow dragged them to 2nd place in the 2017-18 campaign, but they were still 19 points behind Manchester City even then. The best United fans have been able to hope for each season is qualifying for the Champions League and (potentially) winning a domestic cup on the side. That’s how far the club’s standards have fallen.
It’s now 2025, and new manager Ruben Amorim is in the Old Trafford dugout. For some, his appointment was yet another wild stab in the dark, but his four-year stint at Sporting CP reflected a manager who might be able to turn things around. However, Amorim’s time at United has been nothing short of a disaster so far, with the Portuguese manager taking just 11 points from his first 11 Premier League games in charge and dealing with the off-field Marcus Rashford dilemma.
Crazily, BettingTools.com reports that this has even led to Amorim being listed at 16/1 odds with most bookies to be the next Premier League manager sacked. What’s strange about Amorim is that he didn’t even get a new manager ‘bounce.’ Instead, he inherited a mess and has immediately made it worse, much to the frustration of United supporters worldwide.
So, what exactly has caused the dramatic downfall of what was once considered the greatest club in world football? Some believe it’s down to the Glazers, while others like to point fingers at the managers who have taken charge. The truth is that United’s pain is down to a long list of factors. None of them can be attributed to Amorim himself, who has only been at the club for less than 3 months and has a massive rebuild on his hands.
What’s Caused the Downfall of Manchester United Since Alex Ferguson Retired in 2013?
Managerial Chaos
The post-Ferguson era has seen Manchester United go through a staggering nine different managers, six of them permanent. Interestingly, (despite their best attempts) none of these managers have been able to fix the ever-growing mess.
- David Moyes was booted out the door after just 10 months. He inherited an aging squad from Ferguson, and his only signing in the summer transfer window was Marouane Fellaini. Ultimately, Moyes was in an uphill battle from the word go and would always struggle, especially with Ferguson’s shadow looming over him from the stands.
- Louis van Gaal’s FA Cup win proved too little too late to save his job. The Dutchman, who Wayne Rooney went on record to say was the best coach he ever worked under from a tactical standpoint, played ultra-defensive football during his stint at the club, immediately upsetting the United faithful. Whether things would have improved the next season will remain a mystery, as LVG (much like Moyes) was quickly shown the door.
- José Mourinho joined Manchester United in the summer of 2016 with a significant point to prove. He’d just been sacked by Chelsea and believed he was finally the man to get United back to the top of English football. At first, it seemed like he might do it, with the “Special One” quickly winning the League Cup and Europa League trophies in his first season. His second campaign was a disappointment, though, so when things started falling apart a year later in his third campaign, the Glazers didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
- Ole Gunnar Solskjær gave United a much-needed boost after joining them as interim manager following the dismissal of Mourinho. Initially, a great run of great results came, allowing Solskjær to land himself a 3-year contract, but it quickly became apparent that the Norwegian didn’t quite have the chops to be a top-level manager. Sure, there were some memorable moments along the way, including Solskjær’s record-breaking 29-game unbeaten run away from home, but everyone knew his time was up after that famous 4-1 loss away at Watford.
- Ralf Rangnick only served as interim manager for half a season at Manchester United, but it’s impossible not to talk about his time with the club. After taking the reins, Rangnick quickly identified that Manchester United needed “open heart surgery” to fix the issues plaguing them on and off the field for so long. The original plan was that Rangnick would help kickstart the rebuild of United in an advisory role the following season. Still, the United hierarchy ultimately decided to cut all ties with Rangnick before the arrival of the next permanent manager, Erik ten Hag.
- Erik ten Hag divides opinion amongst United fans. Some love him, while others believe his time at the club was a failure. In the Premier League, ten Hag always struggled. However, he somehow led United to a League Cup and FA Cup during his first two seasons. Still, ETH’s inability to consistently win games in the Premier League meant it was only a matter of time before he was sacked.
Flash forward to now, and Ruben Amorim is the man in charge. Upon his arrival back in November last year, United fans were confident that he’d turn things around and expose Erik ten Hag’s failings in the league by quickly picking up results. However, Amorim has come in and made things worse, with some United fans believing they’d have been better off sticking with ten Hag instead of once again rolling the dice. Simply put, the managerial chaos continues — and there’s no sign of ending anytime soon.
Alex Ferguson’s Lack of a Succession Plan
Alex Ferguson is a Manchester United icon and will go down in the history books as arguably the most fantastic manager of all time. But despite all his brilliance, “Fergie” did make one massive mistake towards the end of his time in charge of the Red Devils: he failed to put a succession plan in place. He left David Moyes (and the following managers, too) with a rapidly aging squad, outdated facilities, and an Old Trafford stadium in desperate need of repair. Not to mention, hiring Moyes was also a huge mistake in itself, which immediately put the club’s rebuild on the back foot. In retrospect, Ferguson should have chosen Pep Guardiola or José Mourinho to take over after his retirement, as this would have at least given Manchester United a fighting chance of staying on top. Even the die-hardest of Ferguson supporters now recognize that he should have been slightly wiser with his decision-making, as it ultimately helped destroy much of what he had spent decades building.
Bad Recruitment
Manchester United’s recruitment over the past decade has been nothing short of a disaster. Some players have proven excellent signings, such as Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martínez, but these players are few and far between. The list of United “flops” is endless and includes the likes of Anthony, Jadon Sancho, Radamel Falcao, Alexis Sánchez, and (worst of all) Ángel Di María. These signings have set United back years financially and have made it mission impossible to rebuild a successful squad from the ground up. If United is to somehow drag themselves out of this mess — be it under Amorim or another manager in the future — it has to start with transforming off-field recruitment.
A Lack of Club Investment
It’s no secret that Old Trafford is quite literally falling apart due to a lack of investment from the Glazers. At the same time, the Glazers have also refused to invest in the club itself, from the training ground to other facilities. This is something that Cristiano Ronaldo famously spoke about towards the end of his 2nd spell with the club in 2022: "Nothing changed, surprisingly. Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym.” During his 12 years away from the club, Ronaldo was shocked that almost all of the club’s facilities had remained the same. From his perspective, it showed a lack of ambition from the club, which he was ultimately proved to be correct about.
The Growth of Other Premier League Clubs
When you look at the Premier League today, Manchester United are in big trouble. Even if they start to improve over the coming years, there’s a long way to go if they want to catch the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal, with all these teams having far superior playing squads and ownership models in place. On top of this are fast-developing clubs like Newcastle and Aston Villa, which have mega-rich owners and look set to become Premier League juggernauts once they can genuinely start splashing out on big-money transfers. Therefore, the best United fans can hope is that the Glazers will sell the club to Saudi investors soon, as this would at least get United a seat back at the “big boys” table while providing them with a long-term path back to the top.
Summary: What Next for Manchester United?
Strap tight, United fans: it will be another rough season. With the club currently languishing 13th — yes, 13th — in the league table, Ruben Amorim has got his work cut out for him if he’s hoping to get Manchester United a Champions League spot come May time. And suppose results don’t start to change fast. In that case, there’s a genuine possibility that Amorim will be sacked by the United board — which now features new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe — before the summer even arrives, setting the club back even further than it already is. But whether Amorim succeeds at United or not, what’s clear is that the Red Devils have to start from the top down. Investing into the club’s stadium and facilities, signing quality long-term players, and stocking with a manager for the long term are the keys required to get them back on track. Until then, the bumpy ride for United fans will sadly continue.
___
Sports Team History is your ultimate destination to explore the rich heritage and iconic logos of professional sports teams across MLB, MLS, NBA, NCAA, NFL, NHL, Premier League, WNBA, UFL, XFL, ABA, AAF, and USFL. Immerse yourself in the captivating tales and memorable moments that have shaped each team's legacy.
But that's not all! At Sports Team History, we believe in celebrating the exceptional talents that have graced the sports world. That's why we're thrilled to announce our upcoming "Greatest Player Poll" where fans like you can cast your votes and have your say in determining the greatest players of all time in various sports.
Our partner site, Sports Logo History, offers a vibrant community of logo enthusiasts who appreciate the evolution of team visual identities. Dive into detailed analysis and discussions surrounding logos representing the teams we love. Stay updated with Sports News History, providing 24/7 sports news coverage to keep you informed and engaged with the latest developments. Lastly, explore the premier sports team marketplace at Sports Store History, where you'll find a wide selection of jerseys, caps, and collectibles to showcase your team spirit. Embark on a journey through time, celebrate team logos, stay informed with the latest news, and discover unique sports memorabilia to enhance your collection. Let Sports Team History fuel your passion for sports.