The current Manchester United team and their travails are in stark contrast to the unprecedented success enjoyed by the club in the heyday of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The supremely successful Scotsman was so good at what he did, he was able to constantly adapt to the changing face of football during nearly three decades in charge at Old Trafford – rising to every new challenge and successfully integrating new players into his squad when famous faces departed.
How do Ferguson’s sides compare to the ones United have fielded in the five years since he retired?
We thought we’d compare the best United starting XIs under Ferguson and current manager Jose Mourinho, as well as his predecessor Louis van Gaal. Because he didn’t even survive the season, we’ve left out David Moyes.
Due to Ferguson’s epic 26-year reign, we’ve broken his United sides into four separate eras. Leading up to and after the first Premier League success; the dismantling of his first successful side and the introduction of the ‘Class of 92’; the Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney era and his final years.
With two seasons each under their belts, how have Van Gaal and Mourinho fared? Have they steered the ship back on course or are United still sinking?
Below, we’ve gone through and analysed the best XIs under the United bosses.
SIR ALEX FERGUSON (1992-1995)
4-4-2: Peter Schmeichel; Paul Parker, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin; Andrei Kanchelskis, Roy Keane, Paul Ince, Ryan Giggs; Mark Hughes, Eric Cantona.
DEF: 8.5/10 – MID: 8.5/10 – ATT: 8/10 = TOTAL: 25/30
“3 YEARS OF EXCUSES AND IT’S STILL C***, TA RA FERGIE”, read season ticket holder Pete Molyneux’s banner, which he hung it at Old Trafford in December 1989 after a frustrating start to life in the red half of Manchester for Sir Alex Ferguson, known in those days simply as Alex Ferguson.
United’s struggles pre-Ferguson had endured, but the 1989/90 FA Cup win relieved the pressure, with 37 more trophies hoovered up in the intervening 23 years.
After the likes of Mal Donaghy, Neil Whitworth and Ralph Milne came in through the doors in his early years, the November 1992 acquisition of Eric Cantona for £1.2m from Leeds sparked the red revolution. By the end of the season United had won the inaugural Premier League – a first domestic title in 26 years.
Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister formed a rock-solid defence with dead ball specialist Denis Irwin, while Great Dane Peter Schmeichel went on to become the club’s greatest ever goalkeeper.
Roy Keane’s arrival from Nottingham Forest further changed the Old Trafford culture and will go down as one of Ferguson’s best ever. Ryan Giggs’ emergence from the academy was a sign of things to come under the Scot.
SIR ALEX FERGUSON (1996-2002)
4-4-2: Peter Schmeichel; Gary Neville, Jaap Stam, Ronny Johnsen, Denis Irwin; David Beckham, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs; Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole
DEF: 8/10 – MID: 9.5/10 – ATT: 9.5/10 = TOTAL: 27/30
Despite the awakening of a sleeping giant, many saw Ferguson’s jettisoning of stalwarts Mark Hughes, Andrei Kanchelskis and Paul Ince as an even bigger gamble in the summer of 1995.
Fears only grew when a young and inexperienced United – containing the likes of David Beckham, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt – were soundly beaten 3-1 by Aston Villa on the opening day of the 1995/96 season.
It prompted the famous phrase “You can’t win anything with kids” from BBC Match of the Day pundit Alan Hansen. By the end of the season United would win a third title in four years and a ninth FA Cup.
‘Fergie’s Fledglings’ formed the bedrock of a side that would go on to dominate English football, with Jaap Stam a formidable introduction to the back line, although he would depart abruptly after falling foul of Fergie.
Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke scored goals for fun and along with Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, formed an attacking quartet not only the envy of Europe, but one that fired United to the treble, including the Champions League. It was a first major European cup since Sir Matt Busby’s side in 1968.
SIR ALEX FERGUSON (2003-09)
4-3-3: Edwin van der Sar; Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra; Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs; Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo
DEF: 9/10 – MID: 8/10 – ATT: 9.5/10 = TOTAL: 26.5/30
Ferguson had to reinvent himself in the late 90s and early 2000s following the rise of Arsenal under Arsene Wenger and latterly the arrival of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.
After eight Premier Leagues were won in 11 years, United went three years without tasting title success from 2003-06 as Wenger’s Invincibles marauded to their third and last trophy under the Frenchman and Mourinho led the Blues to two successive crowns.
After bamboozling John O’Shea in a pre-season friendly, the spaghetti-haired Ronaldo’s twisting of Premier League defenders’ legs began when he was signed in the summer of 2003.
Another teenage sensation was signed from Everton – Wayne Rooney would finish his United career as the club’s highest ever goalscorer. Ferguson finally found an able replacement for Schmeichel in Edwin van der Sar.
Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand were Bruce and Pallister 2.0 – new and improved – while Patrice Evra got over his early struggles to become one of the world’s finest full-backs.
Michael Carrick reinvented the hardman Roy Keane role, replacing grit and tenacity with grace and poise, while Ruud Van Nistelrooy plundered goals for fun – 150 rocketed in during just 219 appearances.
After no titles in three years, United won three in a row and beat Chelsea in Moscow as Ferguson picked up a second Champions League
SIR ALEX FERGUSON (2009-2013)
4-2-3-1: David De Gea; Rafael, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra; Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes; Nani, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs; Robin van Persie,
DEF: 8/10 – MID: 7/10 – ATT: 8.5/10 = TOTAL: 25.5/30
Ferguson’s last stand saw United climb down slightly from the highs of his glory years, but the Red Devils were still too strong for most. Two final Premier League titles were won, made all the more sweeter as the 2010/11 and 12/13 triumphs saw them surpass eternal rivals Liverpool as England’s most successful league club, moving on to 20 titles.
He couldn’t quite lead his side back to continental fame as a second Champions League final was lost in three seasons to Barcelona.
David De Gea was brought in for big money from Atletico Madrid. Despite shaky beginnings Ferguson had confidence in the initially lightweight Spaniard, who has since become arguably the world’s best goalkeeper.
Ferguson somehow wrestled Robin van Persie away from Arsenal and his signing proved to be as inspired as any of his previous ones as he flourished on the Old Trafford stage – almost single-handedly winning Ferguson a 13th and final league title with a mesmeric 2012/13 campaign.
In 38 games he rifled in 26 goals, including a first-half hat-trick at home to seal the title against Villa.
Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov flickered briefly in red as United’s attack continued to bristle in Fergie’s twilight years, but cracks were beginning to appear towards the end.
LOUIS VAN GAAL (2014-16)
4-2-3-1: David De Gea; Antonio Valencia, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind; Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick; Anthony Martial, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard; Wayne Rooney
DEF: 6/10 – MID: 6/10 – ATT: 8/10 = TOTAL: 20/30
And so began the downward spiral. We have left out David Moyes’ ill-fated season in charge (most United fans would like to erase his reign from memory altogether) due to its brief nature.
Louis van Gaal’s appointment promised a return to prominence but his archaic methods caused concern and consternation as United continued to slide. In came headline signings Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria during the summer of 2014, but the Colombian failed to cut it while Argentine flyer Di Maria never really recovered from the shock of his house being burgled.
He criminally underperformed following a move from Real Madrid – he had been their man of the match in the final as they won the first of four Champions League triumphs in five years the previous season.
Eyebrows were raised when unheralded Anthony Martial was prised away from Monaco for the best part of £50m – yet the Frenchman thrived under Van Gaal, scoring a memorable goal on debut against Liverpool.
Ander Herrera has proved an adequate addition to midfield but Marcos Rojo’s arrival has been one of many uninspiring additions to an increasingly porous defence.
JOSE MOURINHO (2016-present)
4-3-3: David De Gea; Antonio Valencia, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Ashley Young; Marouane Fellaini, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba; Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, Jesse Lingard
DEF: 6.5/10 – MID: 7/10 – ATT: 7.5/10 = TOTAL: 21/30
And now here we are. Five years on from Fergie, three different managers and still no Premier League title. Jose Mourinho earned United’s best finish post Fergie last season of second – but the 19-point gap to champions and Manchester rivals City was the biggest in the Premier League era.
The Europa League and League Cup were lifted in his first season, but the dull and lifeless football is hard to excuse when no silverware is won.
The Portuguese has spent £302m during two years in charge – including breaking the transfer record to bring £89m Paul Pogba back from Juventus. But United are currently epitomised by the power struggle between coach and star player. The jury is still out on Alexis Sanchez but he has notched just three goals in 23 United games.
Romelu Lukaku has fared much better, notching his highest tally of goals (27) in a season on debut last year. Nemanja Matic has been a roaring success, but now 30 you wonder how many years he has left at the top level.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic burned brightly but briefly, while Luke Shaw and Martial are two players – like Pogba – to have also struggled under the heat of Mourinho’s ire, although the England left-back has begun this season impressively.
The manager’s handling of England starlet Marcus Rashford is also a subject of constant scrutiny.
