How Man Utd bosses have fared in their first game as Ruben Amorim prepares for Ipswich clash

Managers have come and gone at Manchester United but the first game is usually a good indication of how successful their reign will be - and Ruben Amorim will be hopeful he can start with a win against Ipswich

By: irishmirror.ie

Nov 24 2024
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How Man Utd bosses have fared

Ruben Amorim takes charge of his first game as Manchester United boss on Sunday, away to Ipswich in the the Premier League.

United fans are optimistic that the highly-rated Portuguese boss can enjoy the perfect first day against the relegation-threatened Tractor Boys, but Amorim has a huge task to overhaul his underperforming team.

Managers have come and gone at Old Trafford as they have tried and failed to restore the glory days but the first game is usually a good indication of how successful their reign will be.

But how have previous United bosses in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era fared in their first game in charge of the Red Devils? Mirror Football takes a look.

David Moyes - Swansea (A) WON 1-4, August 2013

Moyes faced the unenviable task of being Ferguson's immediate successor, with his first game in charge offering no clue as to the chaos that would unfold under him.

Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck both scored twice, to get the Moyes era at United off to a winning start, but the joy was short-lived.

The Scot sacked four games before the end of the season, less than a year into a six-year contract, with the team down in seventh spot and no chance of a Champions League spot.

David Moyes as Manchester United boss in 2013 — David Moyes struggled at Manchester United but won his opening game against Swansea in 2013

Louis van Gaal - Swansea (H) LOST 1-2, August 2014

Van Gaal was brought in to get United back on track after the Moyes debacle. But unlike Moyes, who tasted victory in his first game in charge against Swansea, the Welsh side subjected Van Gaal to a humiliating defeat at Old Trafford.

A Ki Sung-Yueng goal was cancelled out by Wayne Rooney, with Gylfi Sigurdsson scoring the winner, to condemn United to a first opening home league defeat since 1972.

Van Gaal steered United back into the Champions League that season and won the FA Cup in his second year, but was sacked less than 48 hours after that triumph.

While David Moyes beat Swansea in his opening game, his successor Louis van Gaal was beaten by the Swans on his first day at Old Trafford in 2014

Jose Mourinho - Bournemouth (A) WON 1-3, August 2016

The self-titled Special One arrived at United with a reputation as one of Europe's elite coaches, after huge success at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan. The Mourinho era began with a resounding win on the south coast, with goals from Juan Mata, Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic putting United out of sight, before a late Adam Smith strike for the hosts.

Mourinho won the League Cup and Europa League in his debut season, but was sacked in December 2018, after two-and-a-half years in charge.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - Cardiff (A) WON 1-5, December 2018

Brought in to put 'smiles on faces' after the acrimony and tension of Mourinho's tenure, United's Treble hero was put in temporary charge and made an immediate impact. United scored five goals in a Premier League match for the first time since Ferguson's last game in charge, a 5-5 draw at West Brom.

Marcus Rashford opened the scoring, Ander Herrera and Anthony Martial added further goals, with a Jesse Lingard double sealing an emphatic win. Solskjaer was eventually put in permanent charge, beating Watford 2-1 in March 2019, but was sacked in December 2021.

Erik ten Hag – Brighton (H) LOST 1-2, August 2022

United's fifth permanent boss since Ferguson, Ten Hag's reign got off to a dismal start, with a shock defeat. Two first-half goals from Pascal Gross put Brighton in charge, and while an own goal gave United hope, it stayed 2-1.

Ten Hag lost his next game 4-0 at Brentford, but managed to steer United to third place in the league and lifted the League Cup.

A dismal second season, finishing eighth, ended with victory over local rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final, but Ten Hag was sacked nine games into this season's Premier League campaign, with his side down in 14th place.

Erik ten Hag had a first game to forget as his United side were beaten at home by Brighton

Interim Bosses

Ryan Giggs – Norwich (H) WON 4-0, April 2014

United legend Giggs took charge of their final four Premier League games after the dismissal of Moyes, with two goals each from Rooney and Mata securing a comfortable win.

Michael Carrick – Villarreal (A), WON 0-2, November 2021

After Solskjaer's departure, former United midfielder Carrick – then a coach at the club – was put in charge for three games, with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho getting him off to a winning start.

Ralf Rangnick – Crystal Palace (H) WON 1-0, December 2021

Appointed on an interim basis for the rest of the season, following Carrick's brief spell in charge, Rangnick started with a win, courtesy of a late goal from midfielder Fred.

Ryan Giggs guided United to victory against Norwich in his first game as interim boss

THE MASTER

Sir Alex Ferguson - Oxford United (A) LOST 2-0, November 1986

Then just plain Alex Ferguson, the Scot was recruited from Aberdeen to replace Ron Atkinson, but there was no sign of the unprecedented success that was to follow and transform United into the country's most successful side.

John Aldridge and Neil Slatter scored the goals that condemned Ferguson to defeat in his first game and underlined the scale of the rebuilding task he faced. Frank Stapleton hit the bar, but United ended Ferguson's first game goalless and defeated.

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