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Tuesday 24 December 2024 09:48
Ruben Amorim will take charge of his first Manchester United Boxing Day match, when his team head to Molineux to face Wolves in a 17:30 GMT kick-off.
United have had a strong record on the day after Christmas, with every previous manager post-Sir Alex Ferguson seeing their team score three goals in their first fixture on this date, a traditional one in the calendar.
Ferguson himself also pulled off a quite brilliant win in his first 26 December outing as Reds boss, leaving Anfield with a 1-0 success over Liverpool in 1986, courtesy of a Norman Whiteside strike.
We boast the best record in the league on this day, with a staggering 22 wins in the Premier League era, and will be looking to bounce back from Sunday’s defeat to Bournemouth with three points.
Here are our former managers’ first games on 26 December…
Rasmus Hojlund scores his first Premier League goal – against Aston Villa.
ERIK TEN HAG: UNITED 3-2 ASTON VILLA, 2023
In Ten Hag’s first season as boss, he did not have the opportunity to manage on the 26th, so had to delay for an extra year before sampling the Boxing Day experience. It would prove to be worth the wait for the Dutchman, who saw his United side come back from two goals down to earn victory at home to Villa.
Rasmus Hojlund was the hero and scored his first Premier League goal to score a dramatic winner, with 10 minutes to go, after an Alejandro Garnacho brace brought us level.
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER: UNITED 3-1 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN, 2018
Ole began his tenure at the wheel originally as an interim, with the win over Huddersfield being his second in as many games, following a 5-1 away triumph at Cardiff City the week before.
A Nemanja Matic finish, and a couple of delicate Paul Pogba strikes continued a memorable run under the Norwegian club legend, which saw us only lose once in his first 17 games and get 14 wins in the process.
Highlights: United 3 Huddersfield 1 Video
Highlights: United 3 Huddersfield 1
Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba (2) were among the goals as the Reds beat Huddersfield on Boxing Day…
JOSE MOURINHO: UNITED 3-1 SUNDERLAND, 2016
United breezed past Sunderland in Jose’s first game on Boxing Day, in a game which will forever be remembered for an audacious Henrikh Mkhitaryan scorpion kick.
It won the Goal of the Month award for December and although it did not land the seasonal prize, many consider it one of the best pieces of skill in the Reds’ Premier League history.
The game was put beyond doubt by the Armenian, with Daley Blind and Zlatan Ibrahimovic also on the scoresheet as, despite a late consolation goal from Fabio Borini, United got a comfortable three points.
All the angles of Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s moment of magic against Sunderland.
LOUIS VAN GAAL: UNITED 3-1 NEWCASTLE UNITED, 2014
The Reds extended our unbeaten run to eight games on Boxing Day 2014, with a familiar scoreline for new United managers on this date.
Wayne Rooney proved the star and notched two goals and an assist, which led us to an assured victory at home to the Magpies.
The result also made it 11 Boxing Day wins in a row, adding to the storied history on Boxing Day.
United 3 Newcastle United 1 Video
United 3 Newcastle United 1
26 December 2014: Plenty of Christmas cheer at Old Trafford as the Reds defeat the Magpies…
DAVID MOYES: HULL CITY 2-3 UNITED, 2013
An early flourish from hosts Hull was countered by a great fightback spearheaded by Rooney, as the Reds came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and extend Moyes’ winning run to five in a row.
Rooney got a brilliant goal, an assist and was instrumental in causing a James Chester own goal in another example of him relishing the occasion over the festive period.
The opposing manager was former United player Steve Bruce, who extended his winless run against his old side to 19 games at the time.
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Tuesday 24 December 2024 09:48
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