10 years ago on this day, Manchester United confirmed the signing of Robin van Persie from Arsenal.
The Dutchman was widely regarded as the best striker in the Premier League at the time – having scored 30 goals for the Gunners the previous season – and netted 26 for United in 2012/13.
It was the 13th and final Premier League trophy to be won with Sir Alex Ferguson as manager and the fifth in eight years in the Glazer family’s possession.
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The Red Devils, now more than 17 years after the Glazer acquisition, have gotten off to a terrible start to their 10th season since Ferguson’s retirement.
United are bottom of the table after two games and are struggling to sign players under new coach Erik ten Hag.
Here, the PA news agency examines how United have fared under their longtime owners.
Ferguson irreplaceable
Sir Alex Ferguson retired in May 2013 after securing his 13th Premier League title – United have failed to win the league in nine seasons since (Martin Ricketts/PA)
The Glazers’ reign can be divided into two halves – the eight seasons under Ferguson and the nine since his departure.
In the first period, United secured five Premier League titles and reached three Champions League finals, winning one against Chelsea and losing the other two to an all-conquering Barcelona side. They also won three League Cups and one Club World Cup during this period.
Since Ferguson’s retirement, the Red Devils have not won the league or reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League. They’ve won three trophies – the FA Cup in 2016, followed by a double in the League Cup and the Europa League in 2017 – but missed out on the top four in five seasons.
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United have fallen far behind their rivals.
Ferguson’s sides ended the Premier League era more than 10 points behind the title-holders just twice – in 2003/04 (Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ season) and 2004/05 (Jose Mourinho’s first year at Chelsea).
By contrast, United have never been less than 10 points from first place since 2013/14. They came closest in 2020/21 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when they finished 12 points behind Manchester City in a coronavirus-hit campaign.
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Offense and defense have decreased significantly.
United have failed to score in just 11 per cent of Premier League games under the Ferguson-Glazer partnership, but that proportion has doubled to 22 per cent since the Scot’s retirement.
Similarly, their clean sheet percentage has dropped significantly, from 48 percent when Ferguson took office to 35 percent since he left.
No shortage of expenses
The Glazers have generally been supportive of Ferguson’s successors in terms of the transfer budget.
Between 2013/14 and this summer, United have spent almost £1.2bn in transfer fees – equivalent to just over nine per cent of the Premier League total. Only Manchester City and Chelsea have a higher proportion (11 percent and 10 percent, respectively).
Manchester United have spent big bucks on the likes of Paul Pogba, Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane and Nemanja Matic (Martin Rickett/PA).
Despite spending above average, United have signed the fewest players of any of the big six clubs.
Since 2013/14, 42 players have joined Old Trafford on permanent contracts, at a rate of four to five per season, compared to an average of 57 (six to seven per season) at City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham.
While spending has risen, the number of new arrivals matches the Ferguson years, which saw 35 players signed over the course of eight campaigns under the Glazers.
That window was an exception, however, as United have only signed three players in Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen.
The Red Devils are currently the most economical of the “Big Six”. Wolves, Leeds, West Ham and Nottingham Forest have also invested more in improving their squads.
Missing transfer strategy
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says the club needs to sign ‘quality players’ (Dave Thompson/PA)
Ten Hag is keen to bring ‘quality players’ to Old Trafford, but all new arrivals will now have to adjust to their new surroundings during the season.
Since Ferguson retired in May 2013, United have generally bought players later in the transfer window than the average Premier League club.
They have signed 26 players – excluding free transfers – during the summer windows since Ferguson’s departure, with 10 of those deals (38 per cent) having been completed after the start of the tenure.
On average across the Premier League since 2013/14, 32 per cent of summer transfers have taken place after the opening weekend.
This excludes signings made in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons when the transfer window closed before the first round of play.
Man Utd under the Glazers: players signed after start of season since 2013-14
- Raphael Varane
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Alex Telles
- By making Pellistri
- Anthony Martial
- Angel of Mary
- Radamel Falcao
- red frames
- Daley blind
- Marouane Fellaini
The recent transfer record at Old Trafford stands in stark contrast to United’s transfer strategy under Ferguson.
In Ferguson’s eight seasons with the Glazer family, United have completed just three of 25 post-season transfers (12 per cent) – the lowest percentage of any Big Six club.
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