It is safe to say that Manchester United have not had the best of luck with managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
There have been five permanent managers to take the job and Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy have all managed on a temporary basis over the years.
Current manager Ruben Amorim’s job is said to be safe at the moment but he has much to prove after finishing 15th last season in the Premier League and failing to win a trophy.
As a thought exercise, The Peoples Person asked its readers which of the former managers would they bring back to the club in the event of Ruben Amorim being sacked.
Two clear favourites
39% of readers responded that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be the former manager they would like to see back in the Old Trafford dugout.
The Norwegian is a club legend as a player and did guide the Red Devils to a second and third place finish in the table during his time in the dugout between 2018-2021.
He was also in charge as United made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2019, the best they have done since Ferguson retired.
Nonetheless, many supporters had issues with his reliance on counter-attacking football and his failure to win a trophy.
Jose Mourinho was a close second with 36% of the vote. The Portuguese manager was the polar opposite in terms of personality to Solskjaer but both played a counter-attacking brand of football.
Mourinho had oceans of previous success at Porto, Chelsea and Real Madrid and was manager between 2016-2018.
He won the Carabao Cup and Europa League in his first season and finished second in his second full year.
Mourinho would finally be sacked due to a decline of performances and results and falling out with numerous players at the club.
Distant third
Surprisingly David Moyes was voted as the third preferred option to return to Old Trafford.
12% of readers voted for Moyes, who only lasted 10 months in the job after taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 and taking the champions to 7th place.
The Scot has turned his career around somewhat, winning the Conference League with West Ham United and currently doing a solid job with his former club Everton.
10% of fans claimed that they would like to see Louis van Gaal back in the hot seat. The Dutchman lasted two seasons at the club between 2014-2016. He finished fourth in his first season and won the FA Cup in his last.
Van Gaal was certainly entertaining in interviews and off the pitch but his team failed to capture the imagination and were often criticised for being very sterile and boring to watch.
Finally, only 3% of supporters would be keen to see Erik ten Hag return.
The former Ajax coach won the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024 but was criticised for a massive decline in league performances.
What’s more, supporters have been very critical of his signings with Ineos and Ruben Amorim already having removed many of his expensive flop purchases.
Things have gone from bad to worse for Ten Hag as he was recently sacked by Bayer Leverkusen after an incredible two league matches.
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
