Manchester United’s 29th permanent or temporary boss – and first manager – was announced in November 2023, handing the reins to emerging Portuguese sensation Ruben Amorim.
His appointment followed the up-and-down tenure of Erik ten Hag, who at times promised much but ultimately delivered two domestic trophies amid a change of ownership and a host of pre-existing problems.
United’s manager call-up spans over 130 years, dating back to the club’s formative years as Newton Heath in the 1880s, a time when management was a secretary and team selection was by committee Nine of those managers have come in quick succession since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Along the way, United have had six interim or interim managers in charge, put in place to attempt the smoothest possible transition to a new dawn.
This is how each of the temporary spells range…
Games: 29
Earnings percentage: 38%
Ralf Rangnick joined United in December 2021 with a global reputation as a club builder. He played a major role in Hoffenheim’s rise up the German football ladder, but was best known for his role as director of football for both Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig and later none of sport and development of Red Bull’s global football operations, similar to that of Jurgen Klopp. paper with the energy drink conglomerate.
Rangnickwho has since also been successful with the Austrian national team, is considered the father of the modern German gegenpressingthe style of football particularly popularized by Klopp.
But his appointment at Old Trafford, which came with the intention of continuing as a consultant which never happened, was the wrong one at the wrong time. The veteran coach didn’t have enough time to implement the kind of methods he had previously been successful with and inherited a team not built for it.
Games: 4
Earnings percentage: 50%
In his 24th season, Ryan Giggs became United’s first player-manager in 87 years when he was put in temporary charge for the final four games of the 2013/14 season after David Moyes was sacked. His side started with a bang against Norwich City, but lost against Sunderland and were later held on the final day of the season by a resurgent Southampton.
Giggs’ most notable game was against Hull City at Old Trafford in early May. He threw caution to the wind and started with teenage unknowns Tom Lawrence and James Wilson, the latter scoring twice. Giggs also came on for the final 20 minutes, which was his 1,027th and final career appearance before he formally retired two weeks later.
Games: 4
Earnings percentage: 75%
After the team’s poor start to 2024/25, United fans were introduced to Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim manager, replacing Erik ten Hag a few months after being invited to Old Trafford by his compatriot.
Van Nistelrooy’s time as a united The player’s stint was relatively short – five seasons between 2001 and 2006 – and ended rather abruptly amid his desire to leave. But the passage of time grew his legendary status and brought a feel-good factor and positive energy during four games in charge. Two wins against Leicester City, one against PAOK and a draw with Chelsea.
Games: 3
Earnings percentage: 67%
Michael Carrick moved straight into a coaching role under Jose Mourinho when he hung up his boots in 2018, effectively co-assistant manager alongside Kieran McKenna. It was a position both men retained when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was soon appointed.
But when Solskjaer was sacked in November 2021, Carrick found himself called to the hotsteaat. United won their first game against Villarreal, which secured a place in the last 16 of the Champions League. After a Premier League draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and an Old Trafford win over a rapidly improving Arsenal side.
It was only three games, but the results and caliber of opposition made this an impressive run, especially after six defeats in their predecessor’s last 11 games.
Games: 22
Earnings percentage: 23%
It hardly matters that Jimmy Murphy won just five of his 22 games as interim manager from February 1958, because the context of why he was in charge and what he still achieved was more important.
Murphy did not get on the plane he tried but was unable to take off in the snow and ice of Munich due to a commitment as head of the Wales national team. Eight players he had played a major role in raising died in the crash. Two others never played again, while it also claimed the lives of several of their fellow coaches, other staff and journalists, as well as seriously injuring manager Matt Busby.
Murphy led United into their first game after the disaster just 13 days later, naming a side of emergency signings and reserve team players. Of course, the team won just one more League game for the rest of the 1957/58 season, seeing their dreams of a third successive First Division title fade away. But the Red Devils rallied in the FA Cup to reach the final, with four Munich survivors – Bobby Charlton, Bill Foulkes, Harry Gregg and Dennis Viollet – playing in the Wembley defeat by Bolton Wanderers.
The Welshman, who died in 1989, returned to his previous role the following season once Busby recovered and was fit enough to return to work and, today, is just one of six people. immortalized in the form of a statue at Old Trafford.
Games: 19
Earnings percentage: 74%
Despite his eventual demise due to poor results in his fourth season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did very well as Manchester United manager. But it all started with a phenomenal record as interim boss between December 2018 and March 2019, after which he was handed a three-year contract – the original plan was for him to return to Molde at the end of that first season, the which effectively meant he was on loan at Old Trafford,
Like Giggs, Carrick and Van Nistelrooy before him, the Norwegian was a legend at the club and quickly won over players and fans with his cheerful and jovial demeanour. The results on the pitch were also immediate, with Solskjaer making it eight wins in a row and ten in his first 11 games.
Solskjaer did not lose until facing Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League two months after taking over. Even then, United won again domestically and then pulled off a remarkable comeback in the second leg against PSG at Old Trafford to overturn the tie.
