David Moyes’ trophy-winning begin, Louis van Gaal’s house setback and Erik ten Hag’s Brighton nightmare – how the primary sport of each Man United supervisor since Sir Alex Ferguson went after Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim appointment
- Manchester United sacked Erik ten Hag after a difficult start to the season
- Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been placed in interim charge
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Ruud van Nistelrooy is Manchester United‘s ninth interim or permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013.
After Erik ten Hag‘s bombshell departure on Monday, Van Nistelrooy was appointed as interim boss and will take charge of his first game against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup this evening.
United have won just one of their last eight games in all competitions and sit 14th in the Premier League.
Van Nistelrooy – who scored 150 goals in 219 games for United between 2001 and 2006 – will face his first taste of pressure at the helm, and he may also be in charge when the Red Devils host Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.
Ahead of the Dutchman’s first match, Mail Sport looks back at the first result of every United manager since Ferguson’s departure 11 years ago.
Erik ten Hag was sacked as Man United manager on Monday after a difficult start to the season
Van Nistelrooy, who previously coached PSV, will be in interim charge against Leicester
David Moyes – Community Shield vs Wigan
Dubbed ‘the Chosen One’ after Ferguson’s retirement, Moyes won his first game as United manager against Wigan.
After winning the 2012-13 Premier League title, United faced the Latics in the Community Shield at Wembley, with a brace from Robin Van Persie securing Moyes’ only trophy for the Red Devils via a 2-0 victory.
Less than a week later, the Scot also won his opening Premier League game with a 4-1 victory over Swansea City.
However, United’s early promise under Moyes faltered and in April 2014, United sat seventh in the league and were eliminated from every other competition. Moyes was subsequently relieved of his duties just 10 months into a six-year contract.
Result – Man United 2-0 Wigan
David Moyes won the Community Shield in his first game in charge, with United beating Wigan
Ryan Giggs: Premier League vs Norwich City
As United’s most-capped player of all time, Giggs was appointed as a player-coach after Moyes was sacked.
His first game ended in a triumphant 4-0 victory over Norwich in the Premier League. Braces from Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata capped off a dominant performance at Old Trafford.
The Welshman made his 963rd and final appearance for the club after substituting himself on for Tom Lawrence in a 3-1 win over Hull City during his time in charge.
Giggs managed just four games for United, compiling a record of two wins, a draw and a loss. He was appointed as assistant manager the following season but left the club in 2016.
Result – Man United 4-0 Norwich City
Ryan Giggs enjoyed a short stint as interim boss and won his first game against Norwich 4-0
Louis van Gaal: Premier League vs Swansea City
Van Gaal was appointed by United in May 2014, becoming their first ever non-British or Irish manager.
The Dutchman lost his first game in charge, a 2-1 defeat in the Premier League by Swansea. This was United’s first home loss against the Welsh side since 1931.
Van Gaal came armed with 23 years of managerial experience, having previously coached the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
However, despite winning the FA Cup in his second season, a fifth-place Premier League finish led to his sacking in May 2016.
Result – Man United 1-2 Swansea City
Louis van Gaal’s tenure got off to the worst possible start as United were beaten by Swansea
Jose Mourinho: Community Shield vs Leicester City
In typical Mourinho fashion, the ‘Special One’ led United to a trophy in his first game as manager as his side beat reigning Premier League champions Leicester 2-1 in the 2016 Community Shield.
Goals from Jesse Lingard and new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked the start of the Mourinho era for the Red Devils.
He also enjoyed success in his first Premier League game, winning 3-1 away at Bournemouth, while the Portuguese went on to win the Europa League and League Cup in his first year at United.
However, after a miserable run of form left his side 11 points off the top four, Mourinho was sacked a week before Christmas in 2018, midway through his third season in charge.
Result – Man United 2-1 Leicester City
Like Moyes, Jose Mourinho managed to win the Community Shield in his first game in charge
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Premier League vs Cardiff City
Solskjaer was appointed as an interim manager the day after Mourinho was let go and had three days to prepare for his first game against former club Cardiff, where he endured a difficult nine-month stint.
In emphatic fashion, United beat them 5-1, marking the start of a fairytale run of form for the Norwegian.
After winning 14 of his 19 games in interim charge, Solskjaer took over as manager on a permanent basis. He went on to lead United to sixth, third and second in the Premier League over his first two-and-a-half seasons in charge.
However, despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s blockbuster return to the club in 2021, United had one of their worst starts to a Premier League season ever. Solskjaer was sacked after a disastrous 4-1 defeat by Watford, with his side languishing in seventh in the table.
Result – Cardiff City 1-5 Man United
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer secured a thumping 5-1 win over Cardiff City after replacing Mourinho
Michael Carrick: Champions League vs Villarreal
After serving as an assistant under Solskjaer, Carrick was named caretaker manager on November 21, 2021. United travelled to Villarreal in the Champions League just two days later.
Late goals from Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho sealed a 2-0 win for the Red Devils and their advancement to the last-16 in the competition.
Carrick only took charge of two more games, both in the Premier League. He drew his first league game 1-1 with Chelsea, then led his side to a 3-2 victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Stepping down as interim coach, he left United with immediate effect and joined Middlesbrough as permanent manager in October 2022.
Result – Villarreal 0-2 Man United
Michael Carrick oversaw an impressive 2-0 victory against Villarreal in the Champions League
Ralf Rangnick: Premier League vs Crystal Palace
Rangnick was United’s top candidate as interim manager and replaced Carrick in December 2021.
His first game ended in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at home. He went on to lose only one of his next 10 games, before the Devils’ form dipped significantly.
Rangnick’s efforts were only enough to earn a sixth-place league finish at the end of the season.
The original agreement for the German to stay at Old Trafford as consultant was abandoned, with Rangnick instead agreeing a deal to take over Austria, where he has been hugely successful.
In poetic fashion, his last game at United was a 1-0 defeat by Palace in the Premier League.
Result – Man United 1-0 Crystal Palace
Ralf Rangnick won his first game in charge before his tenure unravelled dramatically
Erik ten Hag: Premier League vs Brighton
In April 2022, Ten Hag was appointed as United’s permanent manager, tasked with overseeing a major rebuild after a difficult end to the previous season under Rangnick.
On August 7, he lost his first game in charge, a 2-1 league defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford.
It ensured the Dutchman endured a nightmare start after Pascal Gross’ first half doubled stunned home fans as United were completely outplayed.
The following week, United were embarrassed away at Brentford, losing 4-0, with Ten Hag becoming the first United manager since John Chapman in 1921 to lose his first two games in charge.
Ten Hag’s nightmare first game saw United shocked by Brighton as they were beaten 2-1
After leading the Red Devils to an eight-place finish in the Premier League finish last season, the board decided to keep him after he won the FA Cup.
However, with United 14th in the league after nine games, the hammer fell on Ten Hag on Monday, as the club look to begin a new era under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership.
Result – Man United 1-2 Brighton
