Man Utd hit new low as 111-year-old record broken

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 12 Jan 2026 04:32 CST
• 4 min read

Nieuws

Manchester United broke another unwanted record yesterday when they lost 2-1 in the FA Cup Third Round against Brighton.

The 2025/26 campaign has been another dismal one for the Red Devils as manager Ruben Amorim has already been sacked following underwhelming performances in the Premier League and a rant against the board after a recent match versus Leeds.

In the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson, Man Utd were fighting for trophies on multiple fronts domestically and in Europe. Playing over 60 games when the club was in Europe was regular, but now, they will have plenty of time off for the rest of 2026.

Even when the likes of Erik ten Hag and others after Ferguson were in charge, United played 60 games or more a season.

Following their worst-ever Premier League finish in 2024/25 (15th), they are not competing in Europe this season, while they are no longer in the FA Cup. Infamously, earlier in the campaign they were knocked out of the League Cup on penalties by League Two outfit Grimsby.

"I don't think people realise how good he is" 🙌

Phil Jones is full of praise for his former team-mate Danny Welbeck 🌟 pic.twitter.com/42prAIKusA

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 11, 2026

Due to these eliminations and with no Europe, it means that Man Utd will only play 40 fixtures this season - that is their lowest amount of games in 111 years since 1914/15 campaign when they played 39.

Who will be the next Man Utd manager?

Following Amorim's dismissal, youth coach and former midfielder Darren Fletcher was placed in temporary charge, however he has overseen a draw against the worst team in the Premier League, Burnley, and that aforementioned FA Cup loss.

He won't get the job even on an interim basis until the end of the season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was tipped to return for a second spell in charge until the end of the campaign, but recent reports suggest that Michael Carrick is now favoured for the interim manager role.

As for a permanent boss, United may have to wait until after the World Cup as The Mirror reports that the United States' Mauricio Pochettino, England's Thomas Tuchel and Brazil's Carlo Ancelotti are all on the shortlist.

FootballTransfers exclusively revealed that Ancelotti has viewed Man Utd as a 'dream job' in the past while at Chelsea.

Football transfers expert Duncan Castles explained on the Transfers Podcast:

“Carlo Ancelotti is interesting. I heard a long time ago, when he was Chelsea manager, from someone close to him, that he always coveted the Manchester United job and wanted to do it before retiring. That was when United were a much better-functioning football club,” Castles explained.

“There’s a strong argument for waiting until the summer, when it’s easier to access certain individuals, particularly coaches working with national teams ahead of the World Cup.

“Thomas Tuchel was a candidate last time around, involved in that managerial speed-dating process Jim Ratcliffe conducted when they were looking to move on from Ten Hag at the end of his final full season. Mauricio Pochettino was also a candidate then and remains one now.

“Let’s assume that interest still exists. You do have to wait until the summer for those three.”

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