David Moyes’ trophy-winning start, Louis van Gaal’s home setback and Erik ten Hag’s Brighton nightmare – how the first game of every Man United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson went after Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim appointment
Ruud van Nistelrooy is Manchester United’s ninth interim or permanent manager since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
Following the surprise departure of Erik ten Hag on Monday, Van Nistelrooy was appointed as interim boss and will take charge of his first match against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup tonight.
United have won just one of their last eight games in all competitions and are 14th in the Premier League.
Van Nistelrooy – who scored 150 goals in 219 appearances for United between 2001 and 2006 – will be under pressure in charge for the first time, and he may also be in charge when the Red Devils host Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.
Ahead of the Dutchman’s first game, Mail Sport looks back at the first result of any United manager since Ferguson’s departure 11 years ago.
Erik ten Hag was fired as manager of Man United on Monday after a difficult start to the season
Van Nistelrooy, who previously coached PSV, will be interim coach against Leicester
David Moyes – Community Shield vs Wigan
Moyes, dubbed ‘the Chosen One’ after Ferguson’s retirement, won his first game as United manager against Wigan.
After winning the 2012/13 Premier League title, United faced the Latics in the Community Shield at Wembley, with a brace from Robin Van Persie securing Moyes’ only trophy for the Red Devils in a 2-0 win.
Less than a week later, the Scot also won his opening game in the Premier League with a 4-1 victory over Swansea City.
However, United’s early promise under Moyes faltered and by April 2014 United sat in seventh place in the league and had been eliminated from every other competition. Moyes was subsequently relieved of his duties after just ten months on a six-year contract.
Result – Man United 2-0 Wigan
David Moyes won the Community Shield in his first match in charge, with United beating Wigan
Ryan Giggs: Premier League vs Norwich City
As United’s most capped player of all time, Giggs was appointed player-coach after Moyes was sacked.
His first game ended in a triumphant 4-0 win over Norwich in the Premier League. Braces from Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata completed a dominant performance at Old Trafford.
The Welshman made his 963rd and final appearance for the club after substituting himself for Tom Lawrence in a 3-1 win over Hull City during his time in charge.
Giggs played just four games for United, compiling a record of two wins, a draw and a loss. He was appointed assistant manager the following season, but left the club in 2016.
Result – Man United 4-0 Norwich City
Ryan Giggs had a short spell as interim boss and won his first game against Norwich 4-0
Louis van Gaal: Premier League vs Swansea City
Van Gaal was appointed by United in May 2014, becoming their first ever non-British or Irish manager.
The Dutchman lost his first game in charge, a 2-1 defeat in the Premier League against Swansea. This was United’s first home defeat to Wales since 1931.
Van Gaal had 23 years of management experience, having previously coached Barcelona and Bayern Munich, among others.
However, despite winning the FA Cup in his second season, a fifth-place finish in the Premier League led to his dismissal in May 2016.
Result – Man United 1-2 Swansea City
Louis van Gaal’s tenure got off to the worst possible start as United were defeated by Swansea
Jose Mourinho: Community Shield vs Leicester City
In typical Mourinho fashion, the ‘Special One’ led United to a trophy in his first match as manager as his side defeated reigning Premier League champions Leicester 2-1 in the 2016 Community Shield.
Goals from Jesse Lingard and new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked the start of the Mourinho era for the Red Devils.
He also enjoyed success in his first Premier League game, winning 3-1 at Bournemouth, while the Portuguese won the Europa League and League Cup in his first year at United.
However, after miserable form left his side 11 points behind the top four, Mourinho was sacked a week before Christmas in 2018, midway through his third season in charge.
Result – Man United 2-1 Leicester City
Like Moyes, Jose Mourinho won the Community Shield in his first game in charge
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Premier League vs Cardiff City
Solskjaer was appointed as interim manager the day after Mourinho was sacked and had three days to prepare for his first match against former club Cardiff, where he endured a difficult nine-month spell.
In emphatic fashion, United defeated them 5-1, marking the start of a fairytale run of form for the Norwegian.
After winning 14 of his 19 games in charge, Solskjaer took over as manager permanently. He went on to guide United to sixth, third and second places in the Premier League during his first two and a half seasons in charge.
However, despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s successful return to the club in 2021, United endured one of their worst ever starts to a Premier League season. Solskjaer was sacked after a disastrous 4-1 defeat to Watford that saw his side languish in seventh place.
Result – Cardiff City 1-5 Man United
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer secured a resounding 5-1 win over Cardiff City after replacing Mourinho
Michael Carrick: Champions League vs Villarreal
After serving as an assistant under Solskjaer, Carrick was appointed caretaker manager on 21 November 2021. Just two days later, United traveled to Villarreal in the Champions League.
Late goals from Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho secured a 2-0 win for the Red Devils and their promotion to the last sixteen of the competition.
Carrick only took charge for two more games, both in the Premier League. He drew 1-1 against Chelsea in his first league match and then led his side to a 3-2 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford.
He stepped down as interim coach, left United with immediate effect and joined Middlesbrough as permanent manager in October 2022.
Result – Villarreal 0-2 Man United
Michael Carrick secured an impressive 2-0 win against Villarreal in the Champions League
Ralf Rangnick: Premier League vs Crystal Palace
Rangnick was United’s top candidate as interim manager and replaced Carrick in December 2021.
His first game ended in a hard-fought 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on home turf. He lost only one of his next ten matches, before the Devils’ form dropped significantly.
Rangnick’s efforts were only enough to achieve sixth place in the league at the end of the season.
The original agreement for the German to remain at Old Trafford as an advisor was abandoned, with Rangnick instead agreeing a deal to take over Austria, where he was hugely successful.
In poetic fashion, his last game at United was a 1-0 defeat to Palace in the Premier League.
Result – Man United 1-0 Crystal Palace
Ralf Rangnick won his first match as leader before his tenure fell apart dramatically
Erik ten Hag: Premier League versus Brighton
In April 2022, Ten Hag was appointed as United’s permanent manager, tasked with overseeing a major rebuild after a difficult end to the previous season under Rangnick.
On 7 August, he lost his first game in charge, a 2–1 league defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford.
It ensured the Dutchman got off to a nightmare start after Pascal Gross doubled the stunned home fans in the first half as United were completely outplayed.
The following week, United were embarrassed at Brentford, losing 4–0, with Ten Hag becoming the first United manager since John Chapman in 1921 to lose his first two games in charge.
In the nightmare of Ten Hag’s first match, United were shocked by Brighton as they were defeated 2-1
After leading the Red Devils to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season, the board decided to keep him after he won the FA Cup.
However, with United in fourteenth place in the league after nine games, the hammer fell on Ten Hag on Monday as the club looks to start a new era under the leadership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Result – Man United 1-2 Brighton