There was a time when no major decision at Manchester United happened without Sir Alex Ferguson’s fingerprints somewhere in the margins. Transfers, managers, long-term planning. His influence shaped decades of dominance and helped turn the club into a global superpower.
That chapter now feels firmly closed.
As United prepare to appoint yet another manager, the club’s current owners have made one thing clear. They have no intention of asking Ferguson for advice. For a large part of the fanbase, that feels less like modernization and more like a cold goodbye to the man who built the modern United identity.
Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe became part of the club’s ownership structure, Manchester United have quietly but decisively reset the internal order. Ferguson’s long-standing ambassador role was removed as part of a broader effort to trim costs and reshape the club’s public-facing operations. It was a symbolic moment. One that signaled a shift away from the past and toward a more corporate, data-driven leadership model.
Now that shift has gone a step further.
The group currently steering United believe they can select the next manager without leaning on the man who delivered nearly four decades of success. A caretaker will be installed first, while the permanent appointment is expected later. Several elite candidates are under consideration, managers whose contracts and salary expectations could easily reach $10 million to $15 million USD per year depending on bonuses and performance incentives.
Ferguson has personal relationships with some of the names being discussed. In previous years, he openly supported certain candidates and was happy to share his thinking. This time, however, the club’s decision-makers are choosing to keep that door closed.
From their perspective, it is about building a new governance structure that is independent, streamlined, and free from legacy influence. From the perspective of many fans, it feels like erasing a trusted compass.
Manchester United have spent more than a decade searching for stability since Ferguson retired. Multiple managers have come and gone. Styles have changed. Philosophies have shifted. Yet the club has never truly recaptured its former dominance.
Supporters know this history well. They remember the certainty that Ferguson brought. His understanding of what it meant to manage United went beyond tactics and transfers. He understood the culture, the pressure, the expectations, and the unique rhythm of the club.
That is why the decision to leave him out of the process feels personal to many. It is not simply about whether his suggestions would be followed. It is about respect. About acknowledging that the club’s modern identity was forged by one individual more than any other.
Ferguson still appears around the club. He attends matches. He visits the training ground. His presence is a reminder of what United once were. To some fans, ignoring his opinion during such a pivotal moment sends the message that the club is turning its back on its own roots.
Others argue that the club must evolve, that clinging to the past is what has slowed progress in the first place. They believe a clean slate is necessary to move forward. But even among those voices, there is discomfort with how abrupt the separation feels.
