playESPNMultiple AuthorsNov 15, 2026, 03:46 AM ETOpen Extended ReactionsManchester United have shuffled from one crisis to another since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after winning his 13th Premier League title.The club were taken over in 2005 by American billionaires the Glazer family, but things have steadily unraveled under their leadership over the past 21 years and this season United have had their worst start to a Premier League season — they sit just one point off the bottom of the table, having won once in 10 league games.The finger of blame for United’s woes has been pointed in many directions over the past decade or so, with the current hierarchy — led by co-chairman Joel Glazer, minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox — taking plenty of flak for the recent malaise.But a lot of different backroom senior staff have been involved in the club since 2005, a lot of different managers have tried and failed, and a lot of players have come and gone. So where are they now?Jump to: Backroom staff | Managers | Incoming playersBackroom staffDavid Gill (CEO)Ed Woodward (executive vice-chairman)Having advised the Glazer family during the takeover of Manchester United, Woodward was hired in 2005 and given charge of the commercial and media operations two years later. He replaced Gill as CEO in 2013 and left the club in February 2022.Now, he is the co-owner of the Quinta da Pedra Alta vineyard in Portugal. He is also a partner at AGILIS Sports Advisory Group — a London-based mergers and acquisitions boutique focused on the sports sector — a trustee at the Bloomsbury Football Foundation, and a non-exec board member at Sentient Sports, which describes itself as “pioneering AI-driven athlete protection and sports innovation.”Matt Judge (director of football negotiations)The former investment banker joined the club in 2012 and was involved in United’s transfer business from 2014.
He led contract negotiations under Woodward from 2016, but he took up a new role in March 2021 when Darren Fletcher was named technical director and John Murtough was promoted to football director before leaving in 2022. He is now a partner, alongside Woodward, at the aforementioned AGILIS Sports Advisory Group.Dan Ashworth (sporting director)Richard Arnold (CEO)John Murtough (director of football)Former managersSir Alex FergusonThe greatest manager in history, Ferguson retired on a high after winning the Premier League title for the 13th time, but he is still seen as a keen observer in the stands at Old Trafford.Ferguson’s assistant in 2005, Carlos Queiroz, went on to manage Portugal, Iran (twice), Colombia, Egypt, Qatar and Oman, and is now in charge of Ghana. His first-team coach Mike Phelan runs his own coaching company, Mike Phelan Coaching, after leaving his assistant job at Plymouth Argyle in December 2024, following the departure of manager Wayne Rooney. Ricky Sbragia, who had been in charge of the reserves, left for Bolton Wanderers in October 2005, but came back to manage the U23s from 2017 to 2019 before retiring.David MoyesThe Everton boss was the club’s choice to succeed Ferguson, but he lasted less than a year, with a 52.9% win ratio.
He since took in spells at Real Sociedad, Sunderland and West Ham United (twice), with whom he won his first trophy — the Europa Conference League — in 2023. He returned to Everton in January 2025, where he is now closing in on his 600th game with the club.Ryan Giggs (caretaker)The legendary United winger was brought in as interim boss after Moyes was sacked in 2014 and managed two wins from his four games. However, the pressure of managing at the top level got to him and he was happy to cede power to Louis van Gaal and work as his assistant for two years. Giggs left United in 2016 and took the Wales job in January 2018, but stepped aside in 2020 after assault charges were brought against him, though they were later dropped in 2023.
Giggs stayed out of the public eye, but in 2024 he was appointed as director of football at League Two club Salford City, (which he previously co-owned alongside his Class of ’92 colleagues before a takeover by a consortium led by David Beckham and Gary Neville in May 2025).Louis van GaalVan Gaal took over at United in 2014 and stayed for two years, where he managed a 52.4% win ratio and won the FA Cup in 2016 — though he was sacked two days later. In January 2017, he said he was taking a break from management for “family reasons” and then announced his retirement in 2019. However, in August 2021, he returned to take charge of the Netherlands national team and reached the quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup before losing to Argentina on penalties. He won 14 and drew six of his 20 games to end his final career stint unbeaten (technically).Jose MourinhoAfter leaving his second spell with Chelsea, Mourinho arrived at Old Trafford in 2016 and won the Community Shield, then followed it up with the Carabao Cup and UEFA Europa League in 2017.
But he was sacked after a poor run of results in December 2018. Just under a year later he took charge at Tottenham Hotspur, then moved to Roma for 2½ seasons in 2021, Fenerbahçe for a year in June 2024, and then back to his first club Benfica in September 2025. Incredibly, the Portuguese boss then took the chance to return to Real Madrid in the summer of 2026.Ole Gunnar SolskjaerThe legendary United super-sub took over from Mourinho for the rest of the 2018-19 season, but after winning 14 of his 19 games he was given the permanent job in March 2019. That lasted until November 2021, and while out of work he took on jobs as a UEFA match analyst and as a volunteer coach for his hometown club Kristiansund FK’s youth team (where his son played).
A move to Turkish Super Lig club Besiktas came in January 2025, but he was sacked that August after failing to secure European football.Ralf RangnickCarrick had been placed in temporary charge after the sacking of Solskjaer, but Rangnick was handed the title of interim manager in November 2021 with a view to a consultancy role for another two years. It was his first job outside the German Bundesliga, but a 37.9% win ratio saw him leave in May 2022 — and not take up his consultancy role — after a season that saw United pick up the worst points-total (58) in their Premier League history. Austria had handed him the position of head coach in April and he has been there ever since.Erik ten HagAjax boss Ten Hag took the job in May 2022 but lasted only until October 2024 despite a third-place league finish, Carabao Cup (2023) and FA Cup (2024) success. His attacking style of football did not take hold, with United languishing in 14th in the Premier League table after losing four of their first nine games of the 2024-25 season.
In May 2025, Ten Hag joined Bayer Leverkusen to replace Xabi Alonso (who had left for Real Madrid) but was sacked after three competitive games (W1, D1, L1) in September after clashing with the club hierarchy. He was then appointed as FC Twente technical director in February 2026.Ruud van Nistelrooy (interim)The former United striker was handed the interim reins in October 2024 and won three of his four games, but stepped aside for the arrival of new head coach Ruben Amorim. Van Nistelrooy tried his hand at management again, with Leicester City in November 2024, but lasted only 27 games, of which he lost 19, before departing in June 2025. He is now the Netherlands assistant manager under former Barcelona midfielder Xavi.Ruben AmorimDarren Fletcher (interim)Former playersOnly incoming signings, permanent or on loan, or promotion from the academy.
Any players currently on the squad aren’t included, and every player signed in seasons 2024-25 and 2025-26 is still at the club.Information and fees via Transfermarkt.2023-24Rasmus Højlund, ST (Atalanta – €79.8M). Left in June 2026 to move to Napoli for €44M.Jonny Evans, CB (Leicester – Free). Currently a first-tea
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