Manchester United’s rich history is marred by dark periods of decline. The 1930s were marked by the team’s relegation to the Second Division after a dismal 1930-31 season, where they finished last in the First Division with only seven wins and 12 losses.
The years following the 1958 Munich Disaster had a devastating impact on the club, as talented youngsters like Alex Dawson and Ronnie Cope were cut short due to overexposure. Manager Matt Busby’s lack of faith in modern tactics led to a decline in performance, with the team finishing 15th in 1961-62.
In 1974, the departure of George Best sparked a downward spiral, as the team was relegated to the Second Division for the first time since 1958. Manager Tommy Docherty’s decision to drop Best was a turning point, and the team’s lack of discipline and poor training quality sealed their fate.
The mid-1980s saw a resurgence in success under manager Ron Atkinson, but this era was also marked by underachievement. The team’s reliance on individual players rather than teamwork led to struggles, including a poor 11th-place finish in 1988-89.
Since the appointment of Alex Ferguson in 1986, Manchester United has experienced improvement and regression. Ferguson himself struggled with post-glory years mediocrity, but he eventually turned the club around, leading them to multiple titles. However, the current team, under manager Ruben Amorim, is struggling, with questions surrounding the possibility of relegation.
Despite some promising performances, including victories over Manchester City and Liverpool, Amorim’s squad is struggling with the Premier League’s more progressive outfits. The use of the counter-attack against bigger sides may be a key to salvation, but the team’s poor construction and lack of investment from owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe suggest a longer road back to success.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jan/20/are-the-class-of-2025-really-the-worst-manchester-united-team-of-all-time