To manage Manchester United is to live with constant contradictions and relentless scrutiny. Few know this better than Erik ten Hag, who departs Old Trafford with a Carabao Cup and FA Cup to his name but a mixed legacy. His tenure reflects the nearly impossible challenge of leading England’s most decorated club in the post-Ferguson era.

Ten Hag’s time at United highlights both the weight of history and the changing expectations at a club that has struggled to define success since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down in 2013. As the fifth permanent manager in a decade, Ten Hag leaves with a reasonable claim to success by recent standards, winning trophies in his first two seasons—an achievement that eluded many of his predecessors. Yet, by Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby’s standards, his achievements may feel incomplete.

With 20 league titles, Manchester United are England’s most successful club in top-flight history. But that legacy was built almost entirely under Ferguson and Busby, who accounted for 18 of those titles and 33 of United’s 44 major trophies. Since Ferguson’s departure, the club has grappled with the reality that success is fleeting, and the managerial position feels more daunting than ever.

Taking charge at United means accepting a high likelihood of “failure” by the club’s historic standards. While Ten Hag secured silverware, his final months saw him struggle to implement solutions to growing problems on and off the pitch.

Ten Hag’s tactical vision was clear: a team that could dominate possession but strike with speed and intensity. In its best moments, this approach made United lethal on the counter, giving them the ability to dismantle teams with pace. However, his system also revealed vulnerabilities, particularly when United were forced to defend against quick counter-attacks themselves.

The contradictions in his setup became evident as his tactics tried to pull the best from multiple styles without fully mastering any single one. His forwards were expected to press high, while the midfield lacked the stamina to consistently cover the gaps. Over time, it became harder to explain the team’s tactical identity, as it appeared Ten Hag was piecing together multiple strategies without a clear roadmap.

Despite these challenges, Ten Hag’s first season felt like a step in the right direction. Taking over after United’s worst Premier League points total, he brought a sense of order and direction. By guiding United back into the Champions League and securing wins against Barcelona in the Europa League and Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final, Ten Hag gave fans reason to believe that better days were ahead.

However, the promise of his first season did not fully carry over. United’s vulnerabilities against top sides, particularly away from home, remained a concern. As his second season unfolded, it became clear that teams had started to adapt to his tactics, and United’s defensive frailties resurfaced. The more he tried to sharpen United’s attacking edge, the more exposed the team became at the back.

Ten Hag’s ambition to make United the “best transition team in the world” ultimately led to a defensive fragility that was difficult to ignore. His well-regarded tactical adjustments, like his use of substitutes, began to falter, and United’s form continued to slide.

Being Manchester United’s manager isn’t just about football; it’s about representing a global brand. United’s fanbase spans the world, and the club’s actions are followed by millions on a daily basis. For any manager, this intense spotlight makes every decision a high-stakes one.

United’s approach since Ferguson has often been reactionary. In their haste to find a new formula, the club has cycled through managers, strategies, and philosophies, creating an ever-present cycle of hope and disappointment. The decision to delay Ten Hag’s departure last summer was seen as a move away from this trend, yet results ultimately made his position untenable.

United’s path forward is unclear, and their challenges are as much institutional as they are tactical. For years, a belief in the club’s “exceptionalism” has contributed to a cycle of disappointment. The club’s new minority investors are now tasked with reshaping United’s approach, but the road ahead is complicated.

United have not mounted a meaningful title challenge since Ferguson’s last season, finishing in the top four only five times since 2013. Former vice-chairman Ed Woodward’s infamous assertion that “playing performance doesn’t really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side” lingers in fans’ minds, especially as the club’s financial success has failed to translate into sustained on-field achievements.

New chief executive Omar Berrada has set an ambitious target: to win the Premier League by 2028, the club’s 150th anniversary. How United navigate this journey—balancing the demands of a new manager, a squad overhaul, and planned stadium redevelopment—will define the next chapter.

The post-Ferguson years have seen United enter seasons without a clear sense of what defines them as a football club. For United to truly reclaim their place at the top of the game, they will need to rediscover the values and vision that once made them England’s most feared team.

As they embark on this latest reset, United’s leaders and fans alike will hope that the next manager can finally break the cycle and build a team that matches the weight of the badge. The next chapter of United’s history remains unwritten, but the need for stability, vision, and continuity has never been clearer.