A celebratory photograph for Manchester United's 40th anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson being named manager now lands in the middle of a far uglier week. Ferguson won 38 major honours during a 26-year spell at Old Trafford, but Michael Carrick was sacked on Thursday morning after one win in 10 Premier League matches.
Ferguson's anniversary and United's collapse
The club's current numbers explain the mood. United sit 18th in the Premier League, with a 1-5-4 record, a goal difference of -5 from 14 scored and 19 conceded. They are also 17th in the Champions League group table after four matches, so the problems are not confined to domestic football.
The reunion photo itself was meant to be a nod to the club's past, with Ferguson being celebrated on the 40th anniversary of his appointment. Instead, it has ended up as a reminder that the present is falling apart while the old standards still hang over everything.
Ferguson's old circle in different places
The wider picture around the photograph is just as striking. Jonny Evans retired at the end of the 2024-25 season before leaving his role as head of loans and pathways last December. Darren Fletcher is now the Under 18s head coach, and his squad includes Kai Rooney and Jacey Carrick.
Nemanja Vidic is in a very different world again, after saying he had put £4.5million into building 76 one or two-bedroom apartments in Belgrade, Serbia. The same report also said Slavisa Kokeza allegedly told him to "stay away from the association or he will end up in a ditch".
That spread of jobs, retirements and off-field noise fits the mood around Ferguson's anniversary better than any polished tribute would. United's former favourites are still around the club or orbiting it, but the current team has left Carrick paying the price for a run that ended with one win in 10 league games.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
