Manchester United is one of the most decorated clubs in football history, synonymous with success, silverware, and legendary figures like Sir Alex Ferguson, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, and Cristiano Ronaldo. But even giants stumble. Since the dawn of the Premier League in 1992, United has had more than its fair share of glory—but it’s also had seasons that fans would rather forget.

Let’s take a deep dive into some of Manchester United’s worst ever Premier League campaigns. These were the years when the swagger disappeared, the trophies dried up, and Old Trafford felt more like a pressure cooker than a fortress.

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2013/14 – The Post-Fergie Collapse (7th Place)

When Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of the 2012/13 season, he left United on a high—Premier League champions for the 13th time under his watch. But what followed was a reality check.

David Moyes was handpicked as Fergie’s successor, but the transition was anything but smooth. United looked lost. The fear factor vanished, the football became laboured, and confidence drained from the squad.

Despite inheriting a team that had just won the league by 11 points, Moyes could only manage a 7th place finish—United’s lowest in Premier League history at the time. The club missed out on European football altogether for the first time in over two decades. Key players like Robin van Persie and Nemanja Vidić declined, and there was a general sense of drift. Moyes was sacked in April, just 10 months into his six-year contract.

Lowlight: Losing 3–0 at home to Liverpool. At Old Trafford. The nightmare.

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2015/16 – The Van Gaal Philosophy Falters (5th Place)

Louis van Gaal arrived with a big reputation, but his football didn’t match the hype. After a mixed first season, 2015/16 was supposed to be the year United kicked on. Instead, fans were subjected to some of the most turgid football seen at the Theatre of Dreams.

Despite spending heavily on players like Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay, United scored just 49 league goals—the lowest in the Premier League era for the club. Van Gaal’s possession-heavy, risk-averse approach frustrated fans and players alike. While they managed to win the FA Cup, it wasn’t enough to save the Dutchman from the axe.

United finished 5th, missing out on Champions League football once again. There were moments of hope—like Martial’s debut goal against Liverpool—but they were too few and far between.

Lowlight: Booed off the pitch after a 0–0 draw against West Ham. At home. Sums it up.

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2021/22 – Big Names, Big Letdown (6th Place)

On paper, 2021/22 looked like a season of title contention. Cristiano Ronaldo returned. Raphael Varane joined the defense. Jadon Sancho arrived after a long transfer saga. But instead of a title race, fans got chaos.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær started the season in charge but was sacked in November after a brutal run, including a 5–0 home defeat to Liverpool. Interim boss Ralf Rangnick took over and things got no better—just more confusing. The team lacked structure, motivation, and leadership.

United finished 6th, with a shocking 57 goals conceded—more than Burnley, who were relegated. They ended the season with their lowest-ever Premier League points total (58).

Lowlight: The aforementioned 5–0 drubbing by Liverpool. Painful doesn’t even cover it.

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2018/19 – Mourinho Implodes, Solskjær Arrives (6th Place)

The 2018/19 season was one of internal drama, public fallouts, and inconsistent performances. José Mourinho’s third-season syndrome hit hard. His relationship with Paul Pogba soured, and the dressing room seemed to fracture.

Mourinho was sacked in December, and former United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjær took the reins as caretaker. An initial run of wins brought optimism (and that famous comeback in Paris against PSG), but the form fell off a cliff toward the end of the season.

United finished 6th, with a goal difference of just +11—unheard of for a club of their stature. The team looked tired, the football was erratic, and there was a clear need for a rebuild.

Lowlight: A final day 2–0 loss to relegated Cardiff City. At Old Trafford. Woeful.

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1994/95 – No Title, No Cantona (2nd Place, But Painful)

Now, this might not seem like a “bad” season on paper—United finished 2nd—but the 1994/95 campaign felt like a huge letdown at the time. Why? Because United should have won the title.

Eric Cantona was suspended for his infamous kung-fu kick at a Crystal Palace fan, and the team felt his absence. They drew 12 games, many of them winnable, and were pipped to the title by Blackburn Rovers on the final day. United failed to score in their last three league games, including a 1–1 draw with West Ham that ultimately cost them the league.

Lowlight: Final day heartbreak as Blackburn lost but United couldn’t beat West Ham. The one that got away.

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So, Which Was the Worst?

In terms of raw numbers, 2013/14 under Moyes remains United’s worst Premier League season. But for many fans, 2021/22 felt just as bad—maybe worse—given the squad on paper and the sheer dysfunction on display. Either way, these seasons serve as reminders that no club, no matter how mighty, is immune to failure.

What makes United special, though, is the expectation. Even finishing outside the top four is considered a crisis. And in a strange way, these tough years have made the post-Fergie era more fascinating. The club is constantly chasing its own shadow, trying to recapture past glory.

Will they get back to the top? That’s the million-pound question. But United fans will always believe—and maybe that’s what keeps this club so alive, even in its darkest hours.

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Which United season had you hiding behind the sofa? Drop your choice and we’ll get through the trauma together.