How Many Managers Have Manchester United Had?


Top 5 Manchester United managers of all time
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Manchester United is one of the biggest football clubs in the world, and over the years, they have had numerous managers who have led the team to great success. The club has a rich history that dates back to 1878, and throughout this time, they have had a total of 23 managers. In this article, we will take a deep dive into the history of Manchester United and explore each of the managers who have been at the helm of the club.

The Early Years

Manchester United was founded in 1878, and in the early years, the club did not have a manager. It wasn't until 1892 that the club appointed its first manager, Ernest Mangnall. Mangnall was the manager for six years, during which time he led the team to two league titles and an FA Cup win.

After Mangnall left the club in 1903, Manchester United went through a period of instability with a number of different managers coming and going. It wasn't until the appointment of Matt Busby in 1945 that the club began to see real success.

The Matt Busby Era

Matt Busby is one of the most iconic managers in the history of Manchester United. He was appointed as manager in 1945, and he remained in the role for an incredible 24 years. During this time, Busby led Manchester United to five league titles, two FA Cups, and the European Cup in 1968.

Busby was known for his emphasis on youth development, and he famously created the "Busby Babes," a team of young players who went on to achieve great success. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in 1958 when eight members of the team were killed in the Munich air disaster. Busby rebuilt the team, and they went on to win the European Cup just ten years later.

The Post-Busby Years

After Busby retired in 1969, Manchester United struggled to find a manager who could replicate his success. The club went through a number of different managers, including Tommy Docherty, Ron Atkinson, and Alex Ferguson.

Docherty was appointed in 1972 and led the team to an FA Cup win in 1977. However, he was dismissed in 1977 after it was revealed that he had an affair with the wife of the club physiotherapist.

Atkinson was appointed in 1981 and led Manchester United to two FA Cup wins and a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. However, he was sacked in 1986 after a poor run of results.

The Alex Ferguson Era

Alex Ferguson was appointed as manager of Manchester United in 1986, and he remained in the role for an incredible 26 years. During this time, Ferguson led the team to 13 league titles, five FA Cups, and two Champions League titles.

Ferguson was known for his ability to build successful teams, and he famously created the "Class of '92," a group of young players who went on to achieve great success at the club. He also had a fierce rivalry with Arsene Wenger, the manager of Arsenal, which added to the excitement of the Premier League.

The Post-Ferguson Years

After Ferguson retired in 2013, Manchester United struggled to find a manager who could replicate his success. The club went through a number of different managers, including David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, and Jose Mourinho.

Moyes was appointed in 2013 but was sacked just 10 months later after a poor run of results. Van Gaal was appointed in 2014 and led the team to an FA Cup win in 2016. However, he was sacked later that year after failing to qualify for the Champions League.

Mourinho was appointed in 2016 and led Manchester United to two trophies in his first season, the Europa League and the League Cup. However, he was sacked in 2018 after a poor start to the season.

The Current Manager

Manchester United's current manager is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Solskjaer was a former player at the club, and he was appointed as caretaker manager in December 2018 after the sacking of Jose Mourinho. He impressed in the role, and he was appointed as permanent manager in March 2019.

Since taking over, Solskjaer has led Manchester United to a third-place finish in the Premier League and the Europa League final. He is seen as a promising young manager who could lead the club to great success in the future.

Conclusion

Manchester United has had a total of 23 managers throughout its history, each of whom has contributed to the rich history of the club. From the early years of Ernest Mangnall to the iconic reign of Matt Busby and the dominance of Alex Ferguson, Manchester United has had some of the best managers in the world. While the post-Ferguson years have been more challenging, the current manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is seen as a promising young manager who could lead the club to success in the future.


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