Manchester United is one of the World’s most famous football clubs, steeped in history the team has a long association with success throughout its 100+ year history since becoming officially known as Man Utd in 1902. They boast an unrivalled list of domestic honours, consisting of 33 major domestic English trophies , including 18 first division/Premier League titles, 11 FA Cups and four League Cups. Add to this three European Cups (Champions League titles) and a Uefa Cup Winners Cup and it’s easy to understand why United have a long illustrious past.
What is remarkable about Manchester United’s achievements is that in over 100 years of existence, they have only ever had 17 managers, a key contributing factor to their ongoing success, which is none more evident under the regime of current manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, who has overseen 23 of the clubs 37 major trophy wins. Taking over in 1986, Ferguson will go down as the greatest manager in United’s history and is sure to be remembered as one of the greatest managers the game has ever seen.
Sir Matt Busby is the only other United manager to be remembered as a true great of the game and accounted for eight of United’s major trophies meaning that the remaining six trophies have been shared between the fifteen other managers in the club’s history.
The only other manager to bring the league championship to Old Trafford was Ernest Magnall who was the first manager to win the title with United in 1908 before winning it for a second time in 1911. In addition, Magnall also won the FA Cup in 1909 which means that just three managers have accounted for 92% of the Club’s achievements.
The three remaining pieces of major silverware to grace the Old Trafford trophy cabinet under the reign of different managers is the FA Cup. Tommy Docherty won his only trophy during a five year tenure at United when winning the FA Cup in 1977 whilst Ron Atkinson accounted for the other two FA Cup wins during his reign in the Old Trafford hot seat, winning at Wembley in 1983 and again in 1985.
The growing debate now concerns who the 18th manager at Old Trafford will be with Sir Alex Ferguson’s time at the club seemingly drawing ever closer to an end after 24 years in charge. Whilst their are no immediate signs that Ferguson is set to leave, it is believed that another major trophy would be enough to see him step aside and leave the door open for the next chapter in United’s history to begin. Who that will be remains the question but names such as David Moyes, Jose Mourinho, Martin O’Neil, Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes are being rumoured and whilst it is uncertain when the new manager will take charge, the one certainty is whoever it is has big shoes to fill!
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