A focus on the battle between Manchester United managers and ex-players.
As Erik ten Hag wakes to another morning of media narratives and speculation regarding his position as manager of Manchester United, social media is awash with imagery of Rio Ferdinand’s embrace with Thomas Tuchel.
Now, while this may seem like harmless fun and nothing more than unnecessary bravado from an outspoken individual in the public eye, the ramifications of these actions are undeniable.
Tuchel, in the eyes of many supporters, is well-placed to walk into the Old Trafford hot seat, with ‘Agent Rio’ jokingly referencing the topic on live television following yesterday’s Champions League semi-final in Madrid.
A notable legacy issue
While Ferdinand’s actions are unsurprising, he alone is not the only culprit in this unnecessary show of public ex-player power, with Paul Scholes also a perennial offender.
The legendary midfielder made 718 appearances for the club, scoring 155 goals and cementing his legacy as one of the finest players in the game’s history.
He has collected numerous accolades, trophies and recognition from iconic footballers while also springing a surprise return from retirement to aid the Great Scot. Since then, the Greater Manchester-born co-owner of Salford City has offered his opinion on the club since his final fixture against West Brom on May 19, 2013.
A history of damaging public statements
I will be the first to admit that David Moyes was out of his depth in Manchester. However, as rekindled in the Guardian in 2018, the nature of the public destruction delivered by Scholes in 2014 left the dressing room silent, and Moyes confirmed that “He’s killed me there”.
Louis van Gaal arrived at the club in July 2014 with a career many could only dream of. As reported by Sky Sports in October 2015, the 49-year-old was not an admirer, publicly stating: “The style is not something that Sir Alex Ferguson would have adhered to.”
The mighty José Mourinho was the next to feel the might of the man who was once famed for doing his talking on the pitch. Having qualified for the Champions League in 2018, Scholes focused on the underwhelming performance against Young Boys, slamming Mourinho and his setup – in one of his many outbursts against the Portuguese great.
Former teammate Ole Gunnar Solskjær endured a regular onslaught from the media. As reported by the Express in 2021, Solskjær and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were heavily criticised by the ex-player following a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City. Scholes stated, “Ole has been here three years now, and we’ve come here today not really knowing what he’s going to do.”
Ralf Rangnick arrived on an interim basis in December 2021, effectively declaring war on the mistreatment of the football club. As highlighted by the Manchester Evening News, after United were eliminated from the Champions League in March 2022, Scholes stated that his ex-club required a “proper coach”.
Ten Hag is the latest in a long list of managerial appointments post-Ferguson, and, again, the former midfielder has set his sights on the Dutchman since the beginning of the campaign. He openly criticised his tactics and control of his side as covered by the Express in December 2023.
A need to appreciate the power of their actions
Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes are not the only culprits for this toxic behaviour, but there is only so much one person can write in an article.
The above examples are a sample – there are many more, and they highlight the undeniable damage these respected ex-players can cause.
You know that paper will never refuse ink, and Manchester United will always attract attention. But during a period where player power is rampant, we can not ignore the power of those players from days gone by – particularly legendary figures within Old Trafford.
The managerial position at the Theatre of Dreams is the most coveted and the most damaging of any in the game. It would be made significantly easier without the damage caused by players who know this all too well.
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