It was once one of the most feared football clubs in the world. Under the expert leadership of the legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United was a behemoth in the English Premier League (EPL), and a constant threat in international club competitions.
During this period, United won an astounding 38 trophies under Ferguson's leadership, with 13 EPL titles 5 FA Cups and 2 UEFA Champions League titles, while also developing and attracting some of the best players in the world, including Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Andy Cole, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunner Solskjaer to name but a few.
However, since Ferguson’s celebrated retirement in 2013, those glory days are long gone. While it was expected that any new managers would find it hard to live up to Ferguson’s achievements and legendary status, no one expected that the team would slide so badly and become the poor cousin to their local rivals, Manchester City, having failed to win the EPL since Ferguson vacated the managerial chair.
The most successful team in the history of English football is arguably a shadow of its former self, with an exceptionally high turnover of managers and middling performance, while it has also bumbled badly off the field, with a failed takeover bid and unhappiness among some players.
Here’s an overview of the key reason for Manchester United’s downfall:
A Glaze that Hasn’t Glistened
Mismanagement by United's owners has been identified as the main reason for United’s precipitous decline, After Florida-based Malcolm Glazer and his family assumed majority control of Manchester United in 2005, the effects of their ownership were not immediately felt as the club still thrived under Ferguson’s expert management. Since Feguson’s exit though, fans have apportioned much of the blame for the club’s demise to this takeover.
“They have overseen 10 years of mediocrity off the pitch and on the pitch. They set the culture of greed, ill-discipline, indecision and uncertainty that runs right through the club,” said Gary Neville, a former United star under Ferguson.
The Glazer family have been trying to sell the club for a while, and on 24 December 2023, it was announced that British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe (the 2nd richest man in the UK) had acquired 25% of Manchester United, including full sporting control. Under the terms of this deal, Ratcliffe then increased his ownership to 27.7% and promised to invest a further £79.2 million by 31 December 2024, whereby his ownership will increase to 28.9%. For now, the Glazers, who rarely visit Manchester, remain firmly in charge, with protests against them at every match.
Manager Merry-Go-Round
Since Ferguson retired in 2013, the Manchester United managerial position has been a chaliced position, as United has hired 7 managers who have been subsequently fired, including David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, Michael Carrick (interim manager) and Erik Ten Hag. Ruben Amorim will shortly take the reins after Ten Hag’s recent dismissal.
It’s understandable that after the golden Ferguson era, United’s owners were eager to replicate the dazzling success under the leader of the “Gaffer”. However, it's arguable that this was an unrealistic expectation, as Ferguson had stamped his mark and moulded his legendary style on United over 27 years. When hired, Ferguson did not encounter immediate success, and it took 6 years for United to win the Premier League under his stewardship.
In the modern-day, cutthroat world of professional football, team owners would never give managers such time and leeway, and this explains why there has been such a rapid turnover of managers. This high turnover has, however, contributed to instability at United and not allowed the team to gel and form a new identity that would take them to great heights.
Bright Lights, Bigger City
Gallingly for United fans, the club’s decline has coincided with the rise of their bitter rivals Manchester City, who were once considered to be a team of serial losers that rarely threatened the elite clubs and was essentially an afterthought to Ferguson during long periods of his 27-year reign. In fact, the situation has turned so much that City has arguably surpassed United’s dominance, having won the last 4 EPL titles, thanks to the managerial genius of Pep Guardiola and the financial backing of exceptionally wealthy people from Abu Dhabi.
United They stand, Divided They Fall
Can United ever regain its top-dog status in English football? It is entirely possible. The vagaries of success in English club football are usually linked to strong financial management and appropriate choices in terms of both buying players and selecting managers. With such a rich and proud history, Manchester United and its fans will be determined to ensure that they return to their glory days sooner rather than later.
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