Michael Carrick is bracing himself for his first full Premier League season as Manchester United manager, having earned the role on a permanent basis after a successful audition in the second half of last season. He is the seventh man to take the job permanently since Sir Alex Ferguson walked away in 2013, with the average tenure being around two years.
Carrick has three more friendlies, including Saturday's clash against Paris Saint-Germain, to refine his lineup. The league opener is just a fortnight away, a lunchtime trip to newly promoted Hull City on August 22.
The Post-Ferguson Era
United are still chasing a first league title since Ferguson's final season. The Manchester Evening News has looked at what happened to the other six managers, both during and after their Old Trafford tenures.
David Moyes
Moyes succeeded Ferguson but lasted less than a season after missing out on Champions League qualification. He rebuilt his reputation at West Ham, leading them to Conference League glory in 2023. He has since returned to Everton, finishing 13th in his first full season back.
Louis van Gaal
Van Gaal delivered the 2015/16 FA Cup, United's first post-Ferguson silverware, but left that summer. After a brief retirement, he managed the Netherlands to the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals and has hinted at a fourth stint with the Oranje.
Jose Mourinho
Mourinho won the Europa League and League Cup but was dismissed midway through 2018/19. He has since managed Tottenham, Roma, Fenerbahce, and Benfica, and returned to Real Madrid this summer, 13 years after his first spell.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Solskjaer, like Carrick, started as interim boss before getting the job permanently in March 2019. He managed more matches than any other post-Ferguson boss. He has worked as a UEFA technical observer and had a brief stint at Besiktas, and was recently linked with Ipswich Town.
Erik ten Hag
Ten Hag won the League Cup in 2023 and guided United back into the Champions League. After an FA Cup triumph, he was dismissed early in 2024/25. His next job lasted just 62 days at Bayer Leverkusen. He is now sporting director at FC Twente.
Ruben Amorim
Amorim took United to the Europa League final in his first season but lasted just 14 months. After his dismissal, he was linked with Benfica but has instead ended up at AC Milan.
