Once a dominant force, Manchester United has fallen to 15th in 2025 due to mismanagement, failed managers, and a toxic culture. The Glazers' financial drain and poor signings have worsened the decline. With Amorim now in charge, hope remains, but redemption is uncertain.
When Sir Alex Ferguson was asked if City would ever dominate, he said, "Not in my lifetime." Now, it’s every time.
20 Premier League titles, 12 FA Cups, 6 League Cups, 3 Champions Leagues, a Treble in 1999, 1 Europa League, 1 Club World Cup, and now, in 2025, United stands 15th in the league table, out of major tournaments, and hopeless to win anything. The story of the fall and fall of Manchester United is evident. Even the new manager, Ruben Amorim, seems to hate United—well, jokes apart, but he is bold enough to criticize the players and the toxic culture at the club. So, where did it all go wrong?
The problems are numerous. Fans blame the Glazer family for failing to invest properly, neglecting Old Trafford, withdrawing millions every year, and using the club as an ATM. It all started in 2013, after the greatest epoch of Sir Alex Ferguson. The managerial crisis has never been resolved.
Appointing David Moyes—who, as a matter of fact, was somehow influenced by SAF—was a miserable failure, as United finished 7th in the league. Fans got their first taste of decline. After sacking Moyes, hopes were tied to Louis van Gaal. Once again, the club signed big names such as Memphis Depay and Ángel Di María. Although winning the FA Cup in 2016, the United way never returned. The iron mentality was gone, youth development disappeared, and dominance was ruined.
Then came José Mourinho in 2016, the Special One. He brought United a Europa League title and a cup, but even his aura could not save the club. His relationship with players like Paul Pogba collapsed, and the dressing room became even more toxic. Ultimately, he was sacked too.
Following him, club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær was appointed. He promised to bring back the United way—attacking, dominant football with better coordination. But the results did not persist. United kept failing to compete with the likes of City, Chelsea, and Liverpool. Coaches like Ralf Rangnick, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Erik ten Hag also failed to restore United’s legacy. Off the pitch, the Glazers continued draining the club financially, signing overpriced, ill-suited players, and mismanaging resources. Despite spending £1.5 billion since 2013, United never came close to what it once was.
One remarkable thing about United during SAF’s era was grooming homegrown players. But now, players perform in the most miserable way possible—failing at basic defensive techniques, missing simple passes, and embracing a loser mentality that has become the new identity of the club.
Now, with Ruben Amorim taking charge, things are still chaotic. His fallout with players like Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho has already sidelined them. The team is lost and running on its last wheels. The INEOS group promised to bring back United’s glory, but all they have managed to do is strip SAF of its ambassador position and lay off 200 people at the club. Meanwhile, the players continue to enjoy hefty salaries without realizing they have given up on great coaches—even Cristiano Ronaldo’s return failed to revive them.
At the cost of all this mismanagement, the fans have suffered like no one else. The Theatre of Dreams sheds tears in the form of water leaks, while the players perform like the walking dead. No one knows when United will return to its former glory, but hope remains with Amorim. His success at Sporting was remarkable—but will redemption come to Manchester United? The wait continues.
Rayyan Rashid is pursuing English
from Jamia Millia Islamia
Edited by- Nausheen Ali Nizami
