Today marks the 12th anniversary of Manchester United’s decision to sack David Moyes as manager, so United In Focus takes a look at five lessons the club has learned since then.
David Moyes looked like a deer in the headlights at Manchester United, but it will forever be argued whether the Scot deserved more time in the role after taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson.
Lasting only 10-months in the role, it turned into a disaster, with United only able to back Moyes with one signing that summer, being Marouane Fellaini, after many failed promises to make marquee signings.
Moyes has since resurrected his career and returned to Everton after saving them from relegation last season. Here are five things United have learned since sacking the man Ferguson chose to replace him in the Old Trafford dugout.
David Moyes in his Manchester United office
Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim vs David Moyes records at Manchester United
Infographic by SofaScore showing Ruben Amorim vs David Moyes record at Manchester United.
Infographic by SofaScore showing Ruben Amorim vs David Moyes record at Manchester United.
Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho were past it
Although Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho were still tactically astute, with many examples from their reigns to show that, the game of football had passed them by.
Van Gaal had done his best work in the 90s at Ajax and Barcelona and was working as the Netherlands national team coach, away from the domestic game.
Mourinho’s spell as the ‘Special One’ was fading quickly, and Man City were willing to outspend United’s attempts to back their manager in the transfer market.
More United News
While he won the League Cup and Europa League at United, Mourinho never achieved what he came to do by failing to win the Premier League.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s joy was short-lived
When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced Mourinho in December 2018, the dressing room was at a low point.
There was an immediate transformation under Solskjaer, leading to an incredible winning streak, including a remarkable win in Paris over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Solskjaer helped restore the club to its traditional values, and the atmosphere at Old Trafford was at a high point for the first time since 2013.
However, after getting the job permanently, there was an eventually stagnation. Some will argue that transfers went against him, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, but the biggest shortcoming was not winning a trophy.
The collapse was ugly at the end. A hard watch for any United fan who loved Solskjaer as a player and manager. A series of defeats – losing 5-0 to Liverpool and 4-1 against Watford – led to his inevitable dismissal.
Where would Manchester United be RIGHT NOW if Pep Guardiola succeeded Sir Alex instead of David Moyes?🤔
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson shakes hands with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after the FA Cup final match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley in London in 2023.
Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
Managers victims of insufficient backing
While money was spent on players during all managerial spells, with Moyes feeling short-changed, the recruitment was bog-standard.
Big names were chased, but with those signed, it often felt they were coming to United for the wrong reasons. It felt like Ed Woodward wanted to hang his coat on marquee players who would benefit United commercially more than they would on the pitch.
Moyes, Van Gaal, Mourinho, Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag were all victims of that.
Decision imminent over what Ineos want Man Utd to look like
The Ruben Amorim experience didn’t go as planned.
United hired a back-three fundamentalist, knowing the team had never had a manager that way inclined in its history.
It didn’t exactly scream United DNA, but fans were told to buy into it, which they did, known for backing every manager even through the hard times.
That’s why with the next appointment, United need to decide what they want the team to look like (personnel and tactically) before deciding on the next head coach.
Not someone too stubborn to change their ways. If anything, United is a club that should change every manager because of the greater responsibilities.
Ryan Giggs says Ruben Amorim deserves more credit for his Manchester United spell – Do you agree?
Getty Images
Former players make good interim managers
United have had multiple interim and caretaker managers since Moyes was sacked. From the disastrous reign of Ralf Rangnick to uplifting spells under Solskjaer and Michael Carrick, it shows that the former players know a thing or two about leading the ship at Old Trafford.
Not every former player who manages United should be judged the same, and it may turn out very different for Carrick if he keeps the job beyond this season.
Solskjaer lifted the dressing with a winning streak when he initially arrived as interim manager, while the same could be said for Carrick after lifting United into the Premier League’s top three.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox