WEALTH November 2, 2026 0 Comments

The Shocking Price Manchester United Paid for Managerial Misfires Since Fergie’s Era Ended — And What It Means for Your Business Strategy

It’s hard not to wonder if Manchester United’s managerial carousel might as well be a revolving door at this point. Since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson hung up his boots in 2013, the Red Devils have been on a relentless quest to find the one who can bring back the glory days — and they could be gearing up to hunt again, with Michael Carrick teetering on the edge after a string of underwhelming performances. Carrick, who once sparked hope by steering the club to a respectable third-place finish and securing Champions League football, now finds himself facing the chopping block after a dismal run that includes just a single Premier League win this season. It’s almost surreal to think that United might be about to appoint their eighth permanent boss in just over a decade — a staggering turnover marked by hefty payouts and dashed expectations. You’ve got to ask: Is there a magic formula hidden somewhere in the Old Trafford corridors, or is the club caught in a costly loop no one’s escaping? Buckle up, because the saga of managerial merry-go-round might just take another twist… LEARN MORE

Manchester United could soon be seeking their eighth permanent manager since Alex Ferguson’s retirement following a dire run of form.

Head coach Michael Carrick is at risk after winning just three matches this season and only one in the Premier League.

The former midfielder oversaw a dramatic turnaround after replacing Ruben Amorim midway through last season, steering the club to a third-placed finish and Champions League qualification, but results have nosedived since.

United‘s season started poorly with a 2-0 loss to newly promoted Hull City before the team were knocked out of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 loss to Brighton, and they have now lost their past three matches.

A 4-1 reversal to newcomers Como in the Champions League was followed by a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth and a 2-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with defender Lisandro Martinez getting sent off.

Carrick received a stay of execution prior to Saturday’s Chelsea match, but he remains the odds-on favourite with bookmakers to be the next Premier League manager to be sacked.

Parting ways with Carrick would extend United’s ignominious recent history, which has seen the club go from perennial contenders to a sideshow.

Since Ferguson retired in 2013, United have opted for highly decorated managers who are past their peak (Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho), club legends (Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, Carrick), and well-regarded younger managers who failed to make the leap (David Moyes, Erik ten Hag, Amorim).

All have fallen short of fan expectations and have been let go, resulting in hefty severance packages.

As such, United have paid nearly £98m (€117m) in costs associated with loss of office since Moyes’ departure in 2014, and that figure would eclipse £100m if the club make a managerial change in the near future.

Moyes signed a six-year contract when he agreed to replace Ferguson in the summer of 2013, but he and his backroom staff were paid a reported £4.9m to leave 10 months later.

After leading the Netherlands to the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup, van Gaal was picked to take over from Moyes.

The club rebounded somewhat under his management, qualifying for the Champions League in his first season and winning the FA Cup, but he was sacked two days after lifting the trophy at Wembley. His compensation package was reported at £8.4m (€10.8m)

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Mourinho was brought in to challenge his old rival Pep Guardiola, newly installed as manager of Manchester City.

After winning the League Cup and the Europa League in his first season, United finished a distant second to City in 2017/18 and Mourinho was dismissed the following December at a cost of £19.6m (€21.8m).

Former striker Solskjaer was brought in from Molde (£1m) on an interim basis but was given the job permanently after pulling off a surprise victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16.

During Covid, the Norwegian coach managed to build on his early success, with third-place and second-place league finishes in 2019/20 and 2020/21, respectively.

He was let go the following season after a string of poor results at a cost of £9.1m (€10.7m) and Carrick took over in a caretaker capacity before the interim appointment of Ralf Rangnick.

The Austrian had been supposed to take up a consultancy role, but that position was no longer on offer after his stint on the frontline, and his departure cost United approximately £14.7m (€17.3m).

ten Hag was appointed as manager for the 2022/23 season — the club paid approximately £1.7m to secure him from Ajax — but things soon turned sour after a promising first season.

A League Cup title and Champions League qualification in year one preceded an eighth-place finish in 2023/24, and ten Hag was spared by new minority owner Jim Ratcliffe after victory in the FA Cup final over City.

Results didn’t improve the following season, however, and ten Hag and departing members of his coaching staff were paid off with £10.4m (€12.4m).

United paid another £11m (€13.2m) to prise Amorim from Sporting Lisbon mid-season, but his premiership never got off the ground, and he was dismissed a little over a year later at an approximate cost of £16.7m (€18.6m).

Carrick agreed a two-year contract after leading United to third place in the league last season, and it is understood that his deal has a break clause, meaning his dismissal may cost substantially less than those of previous managers.

The former England midfielder is believed to be paid around £5m per season, and if the break clause is triggered in the coming days, he would be paid out for the current season.

Rumoured replacements include Eddie Howe, who would cost around £3m to appoint under the deal agreed to seal his departure from Newcastle.

In all, United have spent approximately £83.8m on manager dismissals since 2014.

When including the £13.6m paid to other clubs to hire away their coaches, that figure rises to £97.4m, which is more than the club-record fee United paid for Paul Pogba in 2016 (£93.2m or €110m).

Photo: Michael Carrick, Manager of Manchester United, acknowledges the fans after the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth at Old Trafford on October 25, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Pic: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)