This is the only season under Sir Alex Ferguson's leadership
Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on May 12, 2024, prompted questions over whether it is one of the club’s worst sides ever.
It was United’s 19th defeat across all competitions and 14th in the Premier League.
Throughout the season, Erik Ten Hag’s side has struggled against most teams, even the ones United has beaten.
There seems to be no clear style of play and no cohesion between the players.
After the Arsenal match, ex-Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer said:
“I think that’s the worst Man United team I’ve seen in my lifetime.
“You can’t fault their effort, they tried, but in terms of ability-wise [and] I know they’ve got loads of injuries, but would you argue against me that team being the worst in my lifetime that I’ve seen.”
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane said:
“The disappointment for me, particularly the last half an hour, was Manchester United.
“Against that team today, I bet Arsenal couldn’t believe how bad United were.”
Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, the Premier League side has rapidly become a shadow of what it once was.
As the Premier League 2023/24 season nears its conclusion, we look at Manchester United’s worst seasons.
2003/04 – 75 Points
This was the worst Premier League season in the Sir Alex Ferguson era and it was far from a disaster.
United narrowly missed out on the title, only falling short to one of the Premier League’s legendary teams – Arsenal’s Invincibles.
Had Ruud van Nistelrooy converted ‘that’ penalty in September to end the Gunners’ unbeaten streak early on, the season might have had a different outcome.
United were leading the pack in late January until they lost to Wolves, lost Rio Ferdinand to an eight-month ban and had a four-game winless streak around the March international break.
The championship hopes faded quickly thereafter, and three additional losses in their final six matches resulted in the lowest Premier League points total of Ferguson’s reign.
2020/21 – 74 Points
A strong finish to the 2019/20 season gave United reason to be optimistic about their title chances in 2020/21.
However, a rough start quickly put them on the back foot.
Their season stumbled with a devastating 6-1 loss at home to Tottenham on matchday three, followed by a defeat to a lacklustre Arsenal team at Old Trafford just three weeks later.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faced mounting pressure, but the Red Devils eventually found their footing.
They went on to lose just one of their next 29 Premier League matches, a surprising setback against a struggling Sheffield United side.
However, a series of draws leading up to the March break allowed Manchester City to establish a commanding lead at the top.
Two losses in the final part of the season meant Ole’s United finished with 74 points.
2014/15 – 70 Points
The esteemed Louis Van Gaal was tasked with completing a similar rebuild job to the one he performed at Bayern Munich just a few years earlier.
Van Gaal brought the German giants back to the forefront of European football while steering them away from traditional values that had lost their appeal.
However, despite his success in leading an unfancied Netherlands team to third place in the 2014 World Cup, Van Gaal faced a challenging situation at Old Trafford and couldn’t bring about a significant change in playing style.
Under his leadership, Manchester United often played uninspiring football, with big-name signings like Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao failing to make a positive impact.
While United had a solid defensive record and Van Gaal implemented a structured approach, they struggled to score enough goals to contend for the title.
A fourth-place finish wasn’t disastrous as it provided a foundation to build upon.
2016/17 – 69 Points
Jose Mourinho’s first season in Manchester unfolded in a familiar manner.
United had a sluggish start but gained momentum during the winter months.
Despite a remarkable 25-game unbeaten streak from October to April, Manchester United couldn’t climb higher than fifth in the league standings.
They seemed far behind Antonio Conte’s Chelsea, who had transformed the league with their innovative 3-4-2-1 formation.
United’s form dipped towards the end of the season, with just one win in their final five games.
This resulted in a finish outside the top four with 69 points.
However, they found success in the Carabao Cup and Europa League, winning both trophies.
2019/20 – 66 Points
Solskjaer was firmly in charge as the unprecedented 2019/20 season kicked off.
The season was abruptly halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the break seemingly rejuvenated Manchester United.
Upon the Premier League’s return in the summer, United, buoyed by the impact of January signing Bruno Fernandes, embarked on an impressive nine-game unbeaten streak.
Their crucial victory over Leicester on the final day secured a spot in the top four.
Considering their struggles in the first half of the season, few had predicted such a remarkable turnaround during the ‘Project Restart’ phase.
But their final points tally of 66 marks one of their lowest returns despite finishing 3rd.
2015/16 – 66 Points
Van Gaal’s initial groundwork didn’t hold firm, and United’s fortunes declined in his second season.
A string of five winless matches over the festive period exposed the weaknesses in Van Gaal’s approach, signalling that his outdated methods wouldn’t elevate the club as hoped.
Recruitment problems persisted with Memphis Depay struggling to make an impact after his high-profile signing.
Their slow-paced, possession-based play contrasted sharply with the dynamic style of rising teams like Tottenham. A decisive 3-0 loss at White Hart Lane in April highlighted the diverging paths of the two clubs under their respective managers.
United struggled to create scoring opportunities, resulting in just 49 goals for the season – their lowest tally in Premier League history.
Despite winning the FA Cup, Van Gaal was relieved of his duties.
2018/19 – 66 Points
Had Manchester United let Mourinho continue into his third season, one can only wonder how far they might have plummeted.
However, the club opted for a change, parting ways with the three-time Premier League champion in December, with the side in sixth place.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stepped in as the interim manager and impressed enough to earn the permanent role later on.
Under his guidance initially, United experienced a notable upturn in performance. Yet, the tide turned following his permanent appointment.
The 2018/19 season ended with United securing only two victories out of nine matches and accumulating just 66 points overall.
2013/14 – 64 Points
Sir Alex Ferguson chose David Moyes to be his successor, however, it proved to be the beginning of a downfall.
As Sir Alex retired with another league triumph, his parting gift after over 20 years of dominance was handpicking his replacement.
David Moyes had succeeded at Everton, but it quickly became apparent that managing United was a different beast altogether.
The Scotsman struggled to cope with the demands, especially after his decision to overhaul Fergie’s trusted backroom staff.
An ageing United squad, coupled with a lack of support from the new management structure, led to a disastrous season under Moyes.
Their title defence was dismal, resulting in their lowest-ever Premier League finish at seventh place. Moyes’ tenure lasted just 10 months into a six-year contract.
2021/22 – 58 Points
Ahead of the 2021/22 season, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United.
Ronaldo’s homecoming sparked a sense of excitement and anticipation at Old Trafford. His performance during his second debut was captivating, yet the positivity didn’t last long.
While Ronaldo displayed his goal-scoring prowess, his individual brilliance didn’t significantly elevate the team’s overall performance.
United suffered a string of defeats, losing five out of seven matches during the autumn period. The final blow came with a 4-1 loss against a struggling Watford side, leading to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal.
United then brought in Ralf Rangnick as an interim solution.
Initially, Rangnick’s tenure showed promise, but it eventually spiralled into disappointment.
Despite his willingness to address the club’s underlying issues, Rangnick did not assume the anticipated hierarchical role at the end of the season.
2023/24 – 54 Points*
Regardless of how the season ends for United, 2023/24 will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the worst in Premier League history.
Interestingly, this downturn followed a season filled with hope.
The arrival of Erik Ten Hag seemed to signal a positive turn, as he led the team to a promising debut campaign that included winning the Carabao Cup and securing a top-four finish.
However, 2022/23 was just a mere illusion of success for the Red Devils.
While injuries have played a role in their struggles under Ten Hag, the team’s tactical shortcomings have been glaring.
United’s defensive organisation is lacking, allowing opposition shots almost at will and leading to a record 56 goals conceded in a single Premier League season.
Amidst this disappointment, the emergence of Kobbie Mainoo and the ongoing progress of Alejandro Garnacho offer some hope during this difficult period.
When it comes to Manchester United’s worst seasons in Premier League history, it becomes clear that these periods of struggle are not just about the results on the pitch.
From managerial changes to tactical issues, injuries and defensive vulnerabilities, this shows how fast a once-successful club can take a downturn.
As Manchester United continues to make changes in the boardroom, it is clear that there is an effort to restore the club to its former glory.
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