Matthijs de Ligt is heading into another season with a different manager in charge, and the number behind it is already extreme. He is set for a 12th straight season starting under a new coach, with Manchester United's next managerial reset expected to bring Mauricio Pochettino into the story. De Ligt's own involvement has also been limited, with 81 minutes since returning to the matchday squad in October.
De Ligt's coaching carousel
The most striking line is the one from A Bola: De Ligt has had 12 coaches in 11 seasons. That is the kind of career pattern that turns every summer into a reset, and it has not changed at United.
Erik ten Hag was the only coach under whom he prepared for the season again more than once. Now the next name in the frame is Pochettino, though the reports stop short of a formal appointment being confirmed.
Manchester United's stop-start spell
The churn around De Ligt sits inside a messy United spell. He has made 58 appearances for the club, including 42 in his first season at Old Trafford, and United have only 8 points from 10 league matches.
That backdrop helps explain why the managerial change matters so much for him. United are also 18th in the Premier League and 17th in the Champions League standings, which leaves the incoming coach with plenty to sort out before De Ligt can build any rhythm. The Dutch defender has not had that rhythm himself either, because after returning to the squad in October he has still managed only 81 minutes.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
