Being the manager of Manchester United is a highly demanding job in the world of football. The pressure is intense, with constant expectations for success and the expectation of trophies. The weight of these expectations is a significant burden on the person in charge. Throughout the years, many individuals have attempted to meet the lofty standards set by the club’s legendary managers, with Sir Alex Ferguson being a prime example. During his remarkable 26-year career, Ferguson led the club to unprecedented success. However, replicating such achievements has proven to be a formidable challenge for subsequent managers who have, more often than not, fallen short.
The legacy of past triumphs, particularly under Ferguson, casts a long shadow over the role, making it one of the most challenging and scrutinized positions in the world of football.
Manchester United managers with most wins:
1. Sir Alex Ferguson – 895
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Sir Alex Ferguson is thought to be one of the best managers ever in football. He came to Manchester United in 1986 and changed the team from being average to being really successful in England and Europe. In less than six years, he made Manchester United win the league title after 26 years. After that, they were super successful, winning 12 out of 20 league titles. In 1998-99, Ferguson became the first manager to win three big trophies (continental treble) for an English team. Ten years later, he became the manager at Old Trafford for the longest time. When he retired in 2013, he had helped Manchester United win 38 titles, including a record 13 in the Premier League. Sir Alex was good at finding talented players, like the Class of 92, who brought a lot of success to the club. The best moment was in May 1999 when they won the Champions League in a thrilling comeback against Bayern Munich in Barcelona. Ferguson also signed many other great players, such as Eric Cantona, Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Wayne Rooney, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand, Edwin Van Der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, and many more.
2. Sir Matt Busby – 565
Sir Matt Busby is a really important manager in Manchester United’s history. He is one of only three managers who won a big title with the team. Busby started working with the club in 1945 and built a team with players from the local area. He showed how good he was by winning the FA Cup in 1947-48. Then, four years later, United won their third league title, ending a 41-year wait, and they won two more in the next five years. The teams that won the league in 1955-56 and 1956-57 had mostly young players from the area, and they were famously called the Busby Babes. In the 60s, they won two more league titles. Busby also became the first manager to win the UEFA Champions League (which was called the European Cup back then) in 1968. The way Busby set up the team, with a focus on local talent, young players, and getting good players to win trophies, later influenced Sir Alex Ferguson almost 20 years later. After leading the club for almost 25 years, Busby retired a year later.
3. Ernest Mangnall – 202
Ernest Mangnall was one of the first managers at Manchester United. He was in charge for nearly 10 years, from 1903 to 1912, and during that time, he won more than 200 games. Mangnall also led the team to win their first two league titles. He played a big role in moving United to their current home, Old Trafford, in 1910, where they still play today. The league win in 1907-08 was the first time United won a trophy, and they followed it up with the FA Cup the next season. Mangnall, in 1903, was the first United manager to have clean sheets (not letting the other team score) in his first two league games in charge. This achievement was matched by the current interim manager, Ralf Rangnick, more than a hundred years later.
4. Ron Atkinson – 146
In the 1980s, Ron Atkinson was the manager at Old Trafford. He won two FA Cups and a League Cup in three years, but couldn’t end United’s 20-year wait for a league title. Despite a strong start in the 1985-86 season, they finished far behind Liverpool. The next season, injuries and losses led them to 21st place, and Atkinson lost his job. Sir Alex Ferguson took over, starting a successful era for Manchester United.
5. Tommy Docherty – 107
Tommy Docherty is a special part of Manchester United’s history. He took over in 1972-73 and kept the team going, even though they got relegated the next season. Docherty quickly brought them back to the top flight. They finished third in the First Division, reached the FA Cup final (lost), and won it the next year against Liverpool. Docherty left in 1977, but fans remember him fondly for his achievements in the challenging ’70s.
