Manchester United's Managerial Merry-Go-Round: Is the Club Unmanageable?
Michael Carrick becomes the latest manager caught in Manchester United's cycle of dismissal, raising questions about whether the club's deeper structural issues are to blame.
Michael Carrick is the seventh full-time manager to take charge at Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, and the pattern of failure that has defined the post-Ferguson era appears to be repeating itself. After a heavy Champions League defeat at Como, Carrick raised his hands in apology to supporters — a gesture eerily similar to the one Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made following a 4-1 loss at Watford in 2021 that cost him his job.
The list of managers who have tried and failed at Old Trafford is long: David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag, Ruben Amorim and now Carrick. While there were brief moments of success — Van Gaal's FA Cup in 2016, Mourinho's League Cup and Europa League in 2017, and Ten Hag's FA Cup in 2024 — the final outcome has always been dismissal. The article notes that Carrick faces additional pressure, with defender Lisandro Martinez reportedly confronting director of football Jason Wilcox after a defeat at Atletico Madrid, and captain Bruno Fernandes questioning tactics.
The piece questions whether the managers alone should bear responsibility, pointing instead to those who appointed them and set the club's direction. United's leadership, from former executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to the Glazer family and now part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have cycled through approaches without recreating Ferguson's success. The article highlights that Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp were all managing within 35 miles of Old Trafford in December 2019 while United had Solskjaer in charge — an over-sentimental choice, according to the piece.
Carrick's situation is compared directly to Solskjaer's: both were former fan favourites who impressed in temporary charge despite previous managerial sackings — Solskjaer at Cardiff City in 2014, Carrick at Middlesbrough. The article suggests United are "no longer the attraction they once were" and may struggle to attract top managers given the club's current state.
The piece also points to wider dysfunction at the club, including the decision to keep Ten Hag after the 2024 FA Cup final, only to sack him six months later after a contract extension and £200m in transfers, costing more than £10m in payoffs. The brief tenure of sporting director Dan Ashworth, who left after five months, is cited as further evidence of chaos behind the scenes.
Supporters have held regular protests against the Glazers since their 2005 takeover, and Ratcliffe has faced fan anger over his partnership with the American owners. While United reported record revenue of £678m and a £23m operating profit, overall debt remains at £1bn despite cost-cutting. The article concludes that United's problems extend far beyond any single manager, asking whether the club has become effectively unmanageable.
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