An unmanageable club? Carrick the latest to suffer in Manchester United's faded grandeur

Analysis of Manchester United's managerial struggles, arguing only Busby and Ferguson succeeded while Carrick faces the same isolation and internal conflict that has doomed predecessors.

Manchester United's managerial history is examined through the lens of the Great Man theory, with only Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson achieving lasting success at Old Trafford. The article traces a pattern of failure among subsequent managers, from Wilf McGuinness through to Michael Carrick, each falling victim to the club's internal politics and the lingering shadow of Ferguson's influence.

The piece details how Busby's continued presence after retirement undermined his successors, with former players and hangers-on creating what Frank O'Farrell called "a fantasy world" with no grounding in reality. Docherty's political manoeuvring to remove Best, Charlton, Law and Crerand created enemies that contributed to his downfall. Ferguson's successors have had to contend with his continued involvement as a club ambassador and his influence over key decisions, including his role in Cristiano Ronaldo's return.

Carrick is presented as the latest victim of this cycle, with players like Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martínez publicly undermining him through media interviews. The article argues that Manchester United's faded grandeur—the weight of its history and the entitlement that comes with past glory—has become a curse rather than an asset, driving out managers who lack the charisma and authority of Busby or Ferguson to impose their will.