There is a thin line between success and total collapse, and Manchester United, who was the beloved of millions of fans around the world, are a case in point.
The glory years of the club under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson have swiftly evaporated and thrown the once adored club into obscurity since their legendary Scottish manager quit being in charge of the dugout in 2013 after 26 years at the helm.
Since Ferguson left United, the lights have gone out and their home named the Theatre of Dreams has become a place of despair and nightmarish experiences for the club itself.
The 80-year-old’s exit literally and inadvertently pressed the crisis button at the club. The 20-time English champions won their last league title under Sir Alex in his last season, and nine years after that time, it has become elusive, despite United spending £1.21billion on transfers within the period. They only a Community Shield, one FA Cup and Europa League titles to harvest.
The club have had David Moyes, Ryan Giggs, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick and the current sporting director-cum coach Ralf Rangnick manage them in 10 seasons.
The frustration and lack of success at the club have not only failed to attract big name players to Old Trafford, but now appears to be getting to everyone, including the players. The crisis at the club was further heightened last weekend after their 4-1 drubbing in the hands of their noisy neighbours Manchester City.
Before Solskjaer, a club legend, was given the boot in November 2021, there were reports of unrest in the dressing room, and it was clearly evident in their scandalous 5-0 defeat at home to arch-rivals Liverpool last October, in what was termed as their biggest margin defeat to the Anfield side in over 100 years. It was followed by a defeat to City at Old Trafford and the most embarrassing of all, a 4-1 thrashing at Watford.
Apart from Giggs and Carrick who took charge of the club for few matches, other coaches who managed the club on permanent basis attempted to establish their philosophies and blatantly failed.
Rangnick, a vastly experienced coach, was described as the Moses United were waiting for when he took over months ago. He is reportedly facing criticisms from some senior players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, questioning his tactics and selections as it regards some of their teammates, particularly Harry Maguire.
United are 22 points behind the Cityzens at the top of the league, have been dumped out of the FA Cup, and may again miss out on the final Champions League slot in England, with Arsenal in better position to join City, Liverpool and Chelsea. They have a second leg Round of 16 clash with Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford next week and do not have the composition of a team that can win the competition.
Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag, either of whom will be in charge of United’s dressing room next, may likely add to the list of managerial casualties of the past nine years. For whoever eventually gets the job between them, it may just be “I’ll go try my luck.”
Mauricio Pochettino 
Erik ten Hag
