Ruben Amorim will make his long-awaited debut as Manchester United manager this weekend after nearly a month of waiting.
The 39-year-old has been appointed to replace Erik ten Hag and gets his first taste of the Premier League when United face Ipswich on Sunday.
But how have the five full-time managers to lead United in the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson started their reigns?
David Moyes – the chosen one
Moyes left Everton to replace Ferguson in 2013, signing a six-year contract at Old Trafford. He would last just nine months before being sacked with United on course for their worst Premier League finish up to that point.
.@SwansOfficial 1-4 #mufc. David Moyes wins his first @premierleague game as #mufc manager http://t.co/JXYWPqpQH2. pic.twitter.com/BIVhS7RjVf
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 17, 2013
There were no warning signs on display during his opening match, however. Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck both scored twice as United romped to a 4-1 win at Swansea.
Moyes’ first PL XI: De Gea; Jones, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Cleverley, Carrick, Giggs; Welbeck, Van Persie
Louis van Gaal – the Dutch one
Fresh from guiding the Netherlands to the World Cup semi-finals, Louis van Gaal was the next man tasked with emulating Ferguson.
Swansea were once again the opponents on opening day but Van Gaal and his experimental side picked up a very different result. Gylfi Sigurdsson’s strike saw United record a first opening-day loss at home since 1972 as Swansea won 2-1. Ouch.
Louis van Gaal’s post-match press conference. Read the full transcript: http://t.co/87ZXRywQ7H #MUFClive pic.twitter.com/ChqklLS4rT
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 16, 2014
Van Gaal’s first PL XI: De Gea; Jones, Smalling, Blackett; Lingard, Herrera, Fletcher, Mata, Young; Hernandez, Rooney
Jose Mourinho – the special one
The new/old face to lead United into the 2016-17 season was former Chelsea man Jose Mourinho. Surely he could bring some order to the chaos? Maybe not – though he did take them to a second-placed finish in 2017-18 and won the Europa League.
His opening day was comfortable enough anyway, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring the pick of the bunch in a 3-1 win at Bournemouth.
Mourinho’s first PL XI: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw; Fellaini, Herrera, Mata; Rooney, Ibrahimovic, Martial
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – the restorative one
ON THIS DAY: In 2019, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became the first ever Manchester United manager to win his first six league games in charge.
✅ 5-1 vs Cardiff
✅ 3-1 vs Huddersfield
✅ 4-1 vs Bournemouth
✅ 2-0 vs Newcastle
✅ 1-0 vs Spurs
✅ 2-1 vs Brighton👏👏 pic.twitter.com/OmJtBvqdFt
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 19, 2022
Like Amorim, Solskjaer was installed partway through the season after Mourinho’s departure in December 2018. Originally on an interim basis the former striker got off to a great start and ended up staying in charge for nearly three years.
His first game went as well as anyone could wish – a 5-1 thrashing of former club Cardiff, with Jesse Lingard scoring twice.
Solskjaer’s first PL XI: De Gea; Young, Jones, Lindelof, Shaw; Pogba, Herrera, Matic; Lingard, Martial, Rashford
Erik ten Hag – the other Dutch one
After Ralf Rangnick steered the ship for the second half of the 2021-22 season United turned to Ajax boss Ten Hag. He won the FA Cup in style against Manchester City but never really found a style of play and was ridiculed for his side’s ease to play against.
His opening game in August 2022 was all of these things in microcosm – Brighton coming to Old Trafford and winning 2-1 thanks to a Pascal Gross brace.
Ten Hag’s first PL XI: De Gea; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Eriksen, Fred, McTominay; Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford
