Gary Lineker has placed some of the blame for Manchester United’s continued struggles on Sir Alex Ferguson, arguing that the legendary manager did not leave the club in an ideal state when he retired in 2013. The club’s disastrous 2024-25 season worsened further on Sunday when they suffered an FA Cup exit to Fulham after a penalty shootout.
Currently sitting 14th in the Premier League, United’s campaign has been nothing short of chaotic. Erik ten Hag was dismissed in November, and Ruben Amorim was brought in to replace him, but results have not improved. Their hopes of European qualification through the league are long gone, and their only remaining chance at success comes in the Europa League, where they face Real Sociedad in a crucial knockout tie.
The turmoil has not been limited to the pitch. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have initiated major structural changes, leading to widespread redundancies. The unexpected departure of sporting director Dan Ashworth after just months in the role has further highlighted the ongoing instability at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, club legend Wayne Rooney has dismissed Amorim’s ambitions of bringing United back to the top as unrealistic.
Since Ferguson’s departure, the club has failed to replicate its former dominance. The legendary manager left alongside chief executive David Gill, and in the 14 years since, United have managed just five trophies, falling far behind their fiercest rivals, Manchester City and Liverpool. Lineker compared Ferguson’s exit to Jürgen Klopp’s recent departure from Liverpool, pointing out that Klopp left the club in a strong position for successor Arne Slot.
Speaking after United’s FA Cup defeat, Lineker explained that Ferguson’s final title-winning squad was already past its peak. “I know they won the league that season, but it wasn’t their best side, and a lot of their great players were at the end of their careers,” he said. “From there, they had problems. The academy wasn’t delivering players like before.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool are thriving under Slot in their first season without Klopp, currently 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League with 10 games remaining. Their smooth transition contrasts sharply with United’s decade-long struggle to find a stable and successful post-Ferguson identity.
United’s decline was immediate, finishing seventh in their first season without Ferguson, which cost David Moyes his job before the campaign even ended. While Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer secured second-place finishes in 2018 and 2021, United never came close to truly challenging for the title. Each time, they were well behind Manchester City, who have since claimed seven league crowns.
As the club continues to search for stability both on and off the pitch, the impact of Ferguson’s departure remains a defining factor. Whether Amorim can finally reverse the decline remains uncertain, but as United’s struggles persist, Lineker’s assessment serves as another reminder of how far the club has fallen.