• Matt Busby - win percentage: 50.45% Busby was manager from October 1945 until June 1969, with a brief return between 1970 and 71. Won 5 first division titles, 2 FA Cups, and 1 European Cup. Getty Images
    Matt Busby - win percentage: 50.45% Busby was manager from October 1945 until June 1969, with a brief return between 1970 and 71. Won 5 first division titles, 2 FA Cups, and 1 European Cup. Getty Images
  • Wilf McGuiness - win percentage: 36.78% McGuiness, a former Manchester United player, took over from Busby in June 1969, but only lasted until December 1970 - winning no trophies while in charge. Getty Images
    Wilf McGuiness - win percentage: 36.78% McGuiness, a former Manchester United player, took over from Busby in June 1969, but only lasted until December 1970 - winning no trophies while in charge. Getty Images
  • Frank O'Farrell - win percentage: 37.04% O'Farrell was United manager from June 1971 until December 1972. Getty Images
    Frank O'Farrell - win percentage: 37.04% O'Farrell was United manager from June 1971 until December 1972. Getty Images
  • Tommy Docherty - win percentage: 46.93% Docherty took charge in December 1972, and stayed with the club until July 1977. Under Docherty United won the FA Cup, and were promoted back to the First Division as champions. Getty Images
    Tommy Docherty - win percentage: 46.93% Docherty took charge in December 1972, and stayed with the club until July 1977. Under Docherty United won the FA Cup, and were promoted back to the First Division as champions. Getty Images
  • Dave Sexton - win percentage: 40.30% Sexton was put in charge in July 1977, and lasted until April 1981. Getty Images
    Dave Sexton - win percentage: 40.30% Sexton was put in charge in July 1977, and lasted until April 1981. Getty Images
  • Ron Atkinson - win percentage: 50% Atkinson arrived at United in June 1981, and won 2 FA Cups, before leaving in November 1986. Getty Images
    Ron Atkinson - win percentage: 50% Atkinson arrived at United in June 1981, and won 2 FA Cups, before leaving in November 1986. Getty Images
  • Sir Alex Ferguson - win percentage: 59.67% Ferguson was given the job in November 1986 after a successful period with Aberdeen. He of course went on to be the most successful manager in the clubs history, winning 13 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 2 Champions League titles, 1 Cup Winners' Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup. Ferguson retired in May 2013. Getty Images
    Sir Alex Ferguson - win percentage: 59.67% Ferguson was given the job in November 1986 after a successful period with Aberdeen. He of course went on to be the most successful manager in the clubs history, winning 13 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 2 Champions League titles, 1 Cup Winners' Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup. Ferguson retired in May 2013. Getty Images
  • David Moyes - win percentage: 52.94% Moyes was the man chosen to follow Sir Alex Ferguson. He was hired in July 2013, and was gone by April 2014. Getty Images
    David Moyes - win percentage: 52.94% Moyes was the man chosen to follow Sir Alex Ferguson. He was hired in July 2013, and was gone by April 2014. Getty Images
  • Ryan Giggs - win percentage: 50% Former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs was appointed caretaker manager in April 2014, holding the position for a month. Getty Images
    Ryan Giggs - win percentage: 50% Former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs was appointed caretaker manager in April 2014, holding the position for a month. Getty Images
  • Louis van Gaal - win percentage: 52.43% van Gaal arrived in July 2014. He won the FA Cup in 2016, but that wasn't enough to keep him safe from the sack - he departed in May 2016. Getty Images
    Louis van Gaal - win percentage: 52.43% van Gaal arrived in July 2014. He won the FA Cup in 2016, but that wasn't enough to keep him safe from the sack - he departed in May 2016. Getty Images
  • Jose Mourinho - win percentage: 58.33% Mourinho was appointed in May 2016 - he won the Europa League and the League Cup while in Manchester, but was given his marching orders in December 2018. Getty Images
    Jose Mourinho - win percentage: 58.33% Mourinho was appointed in May 2016 - he won the Europa League and the League Cup while in Manchester, but was given his marching orders in December 2018. Getty Images
  • Former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is expected to be named caretaker manager, and would be in charge for the remainder of the 2018/19 season. Getty Images
    Former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is expected to be named caretaker manager, and would be in charge for the remainder of the 2018/19 season. Getty Images
  • Next up? Zinedine Zidane, Mauricio Pochettino, Laurent Blanc, and Diego Simeone have all been linked with the United job since Mourinho's departure. Getty Images
    Next up? Zinedine Zidane, Mauricio Pochettino, Laurent Blanc, and Diego Simeone have all been linked with the United job since Mourinho's departure. Getty Images

From Matt Busby to Jose Mourinho - Manchester United managers in pictures


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Jose Mourinho's reign as Manchester United came to an end on Tuesday and it highlights just how quickly the club have worked through an array of managers compared to other eras.

Between 1969, when Matt Busby stepped down as manager, a year after guiding them to the European Cup, and 1986 when Ferguson was appointed, the club had five men in the post (not including Busby's brief six-month reign between 1970 and 1971) stretched over a 17-year timeline.

The caretaker manager, expected to be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who takes over after Mourinho at United will be the fifth person to sit in the dugout at Old Trafford since Ferguson retired in 2013.

By the time a permanent appointment is made in the summer they will be the sixth manager since Ferguson in a span of six years.

To view the complete list of managers since Busby's reign in 1969 ended, check out the photo gallery above. To move on to the next image, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

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