Manchester United appointed Portuguese Ruben Amorim as head coach on Friday, their sixth permanent boss since Alex Ferguson retired after guiding them to their last league title in 2013.

Following is a list of permanent and interim managers who have taken charge at United following Ferguson’s retirement:

David Moyes

In charge: July 1, 2013-April 22, 2014

Matches: 51

Win-Draw-Loss: 27-9-15

Trophies won: 1 (Community Shield)

Moyes was chosen to succeed Ferguson after 11 years at Everton but found it hard to fill his fellow Scotsman’s shoes.

United struggled with inconsistency in the defence of their title, finishing seventh in the Premier League that season, with Moyes dismissed 10 months after his arrival.

Ryan Giggs (caretaker)

In charge: April 22, 2014-May 11, 2014

Matches: 4

Win-Draw-Loss: 2-1-1

Trophies won: 0

Former midfielder Giggs, who holds the United appearance record of 963, had a short spell as caretaker after Moyes left.

It was the first major coaching assignment for Giggs, who remained at the club as an assistant coach till 2016 before managing Wales for two years from 2018-2020.

Louis van Gaal

In charge: July 16, 2014-May 23, 2016

Matches: 103

Win-Draw-Loss: 54-25-24

Trophies won: 1 (FA Cup)

Van Gaal arrived at United as one of the most respected managers of his generation, with successful spells at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Ajax Amsterdam and the Netherlands national team in a period spanning over two decades.

United improved their performances in the league under the Dutchman, finishing fourth in 2014-15. But Van Gaal’s possession-heavy playing style was criticised throughout his stay and he was fired despite winning the FA Cup in 2015-16.

Jose Mourinho

In charge: May 27, 2016-Dec. 18, 2018

Matches: 144

Win-Draw-Loss: 84-32-28

Trophies won: 3 (Europa League, League Cup, Community Shield)

Mourinho’s arrival reflected United’s ambition and his tenure got off to an optimistic start with the club winning the League Cup and Europa League in his first campaign followed by a second-place finish in the league the next season.

Despite spending nearly 400 million pounds ($519.08 million) on players, a drop in performances during the 2018-19 campaign led to the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager’s dismissal when United were 19 points behind the league leaders.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

In charge: Dec. 19, 2018 (On interim basis, made permanent in March 2019) – Nov. 21, 2021

Matches: 168

Win-Draw-Loss: 91-37-40

Trophies won: 0

Former United forward Solskjaer started his coaching career at United after hanging up his boots, managing the reserve side from 2008-2011. He managed Cardiff City and Norwegian club Molde before being appointed United interim manager.

Solskjaer won 14 of his 19 matches before being made permanent boss, but inconsistency plagued United for the rest of his stay. The Norwegian was dismissed after a string of embarrassing losses to Liverpool, Manchester City and Watford.

Michael Carrick (caretaker)

In charge: Nov. 21, 2021-Dec. 2, 2021

Matches: 3

Win-Draw-Loss: 2-1-0

Trophies won: 0

Former United midfielder Michael Carrick was part of the club’s coaching staff when appointed caretaker manager for less than two weeks, marking the start of his managerial career.

Carrick took over as Middlesbrough boss in 2022, where he remains in charge.

Ralf Rangnick (interim)

In charge: Dec. 3, 2021-May 22, 2022

Matches: 29

Win-Draw-Loss: 11-10-8

Trophies won: 0

Former VfB Stuttgart, RB Leipzig and Schalke 04 manager Ralf Rangnick attempted to steady the ship during a difficult season as United’s interim manager, with underwhelming results.

They finished sixth in the league and exited the Champions League in the last 16. He left at the end of the 2021-22 season.

Erik ten Hag

In charge: May 23, 2022-Oct. 28, 2024

Matches: 128

Win-Draw-Loss: 70-23-35

Trophies won: 2 (FA Cup, League Cup)

Ten Hag arrived at United following a successful spell at Ajax but, despite winning the League Cup and securing a top-four finish in the league in his first season, his tenure soon took a downward turn.

United finished eighth in 2023-24 but the Dutchman was given a second chance to right the ship after winning the FA Cup. However, they were sitting 14th after nine matches in October 2024 when Ten Hag was fired.

Ruud van Nistelrooy (interim)

In Charge: Oct. 28, 2024 – Nov. 10, 2024

Matches: 1

Win-Draw-Loss: 1-0-0

Trophies won: 0

Former Dutch international Van Nistelrooy, who previously managed PSV Eindhoven, joined United as an assistant coach in July 2024. He was made interim boss after Ten Hag was sacked.

Van Nistelrooy, who won his first match in charge when United beat Leicester City in the League Cup on Wednesday, said he wants to remain part of the management team under Amorim.

-Reuters

Portuguese Ruben Amorim, 39, has become troubled Manchester United’s youngest coach since 1969 when Wilf McGuinness succeeded Matt Busby in June 1969. He also becomes the 10th manager since the era of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson who left the club in May 2013 after a tenure of 27 years.

In naming Amorim, Manchester United are hoping that one of Europe’s brightest young managers can restore the struggling team to its former glories.

He will join United on November 11 with a contract until 2027, and a club option for an additional year, once he has fulfilled his obligations to Sporting — a club he revived during his four-and-a-half years in charge.

“Ruben is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football,” United said in a statement.

“Highly decorated as both a player and coach, his titles include winning the Primeira Liga twice in Portugal with Sporting CP; the first of which was the club’s first title in 19 years.

“Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take charge of the team until Ruben joins.”

The charismatic Amorim, who usually employs a crowd-pleasing 3-4-3 formation with high pressing and possession-based football, took Sporting to Primeira Liga titles in 2021 and 2024 and they lead the standings again this season

United, who have been in the doldrums by their standards since manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, moved swiftly to secure Amorim after axing Dutchman Ten Hag on Oct. 28 following another woeful start to the season.

The club agreed to pay 11 million euros ($11.96 million) to trigger a release clause in Amorim’s contract.

Ruud van Nistelrooy is well aware that his interim manager stint at Manchester United will be a short one, but the Dutchman said on Thursday that he expected to still be in charge for this weekend’s Premier League clash at home to Chelsea.

Former United striker Van Nistelrooy stepped up from his assistant coach role at the club after the sacking of Erik ten Hag on Monday, and Sporting coach Ruben Amorim is widely expected to be installed as manager at Old Trafford very soon.

The temporary coach got off to a winning start with a 5-2 League Cup quarter-final win over visitors Leicester City on Wednesday, and at Thursday’s press conference, it was suggested he will still be there for the game with Chelsea on Sunday.

“I am guessing that too, so yes, it’s going to be a short job as an interim, that was communicated very clear and I was happy with that,” Van Nistelrooy told reporters.

“Obviously, it was difficult that Erik had to leave, I was very disappointed, with very mixed feelings about that, but you have to switch the mindset to win because 75,000 people are waiting and celebrating and millions are watching at home.”

While the 48-year-old Van Nistelrooy accepts his new job will be a short-lived one, he plans to return to his previous role once a new manager is installed.

“I decided to come back here for a very important reason. I came as an assistant to help the club forward and I’m still very motivated to do so in any capacity,” he said.

“As an assistant, and now as an interim manager, and after that I go back to my assistant contract that I have here for this season and next.

“I’m very motivated to stay here and help the club forward, that’s my absolute goal. I can speak to you about my side of the story and after, when the new manager is signed and conversations take place, we have to see how things develop.”

Van Nistelrooy, while upset about the departure of compatriot Ten Hag, knows in this job it is results that matter.

United finished a disappointing eighth last season and, while an FA Cup final win over Manchester City may have helped prolong Ten Hag’s stay, four losses in the opening nine league games leaving his side 14th ultimately proved his downfall.

“In the end, it is also clear in football that it is the results and Erik also said, in pre-season we had new staff and all were very positive and all working hard to bring the club forward,” Van Nistelrooy said.

“There are things you can’t explain sometimes. So many games we felt we could get a better result, talking Crystal Palace, West Ham, Porto, Fenerbahce (in the Europa League), but we also know it is about results and that is part of our job.”

Talks are reportedly ongoing between United and Sporting, with Amorim saying he will not provide any news until after his side’s next game on Friday, and Van Nistelrooy too was giving nothing away when asked about the Portuguese coach.

“Is he already announced? So we don’t know,” the interim manager said. “Again, what the future will bring, we will see.”

-Reuters