Manchester United’s Biggest Wins Since Sir Alex Ferguson Retired

Manchester United struggled to replicate the success of Sir Alex Ferguson since retired in 2013 after winning his 13th Premier League title and it has made big wins, the kind brought about by free flowing attacking performances that characterised the 1990s and 2000s, rarer.

There have been plenty of dry years, although current manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer above any other is at least trying to bring back what his mentor encouraged and the goals have started to flow since he took over in 2018 in particular.

Here’s a look at the biggest United wins in the post-Fergie years.

8. Man Utd 5-1 Midtjylland (2016)

Scorers: Bodurov (OG), Rashford (2), Herrera, Memphis

With United facing potential embarrassment against Midtjylland in the Europa League last 32 and lacking any first-team strikers, Marcus Rashford stepped forward for a debut to remember in 2016.

The 18-year-old only started because Anthony Martial, just 20 himself, was injured in the warm-up, but he scored two goals in the second half to contribute to a 5-1 win and has never looked back.

A few days later he scored another brace on his Premier League debut.

7. Cardiff 1-5 Man Utd (2018)

Scorers: Rashford, Herrera, Martial, Lingard (2)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer couldn’t have wished for a better start on his return to United upon being appointed interim successor to the sacked Jose Mourinho. That it was against former club Cardiff only made it a sweeter afternoon for the Old Trafford legend.

It took three minutes for Rashford to open the scoring and United had scored three by half-time. Two late goals from Jesse Lingard made it only the club’s second five-goal haul post-Fergie.

6. Bayer Leverkusen 0-5 Man Utd (2013)

Scorers: Valencia, Spahic (OG), Evans, Smalling, Nani

The first time that United scored five goals post-Ferguson was actually quite soon after the legendary boss called time on his career. It came in Germany as a David Moyes-led team thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 in the Champions League group stage.

Leverkusen were a decent side who followed United into the knockout rounds, but they were no match on this occasion. Nani rounded off the scoring with a sublime fifth.

5. Man Utd 5-0 Club Brugge (2020)

Scorers: Fernandes, Ighalo, McTominay, Fred (2)

United felt a real uplift in early 2020 thanks to the arrival of Bruno Fernandes in the January transfer window, with the Portuguese midfielder kicking off the 5-0 rout of Club Brugge in the second leg of the Europa League last 32.

Odion Igahlo, another January signing, got in on the act, while even Fred scored two rare goals near the end of the game to make it four, and then five.

4. LASK 0-5 Man Utd (2020)

Scorers: Ighalo, James, Mata, Greenwood, Pereira

Solskjaer oversaw 5-0 wins in successive European games in 2019/20 when United put Austrian side LASK to the sword shortly after thrashing Brugge and Odion Ighalo scored a beauty to kick things off.

This time it was on the road, although it was again defined by a late flurry, with Juan Mata netting in the third inside the last 10 minutes and Mason Greenwood and Andreas Pereira both scoring in stoppage time.

3. Man Utd 5-0 RB Leipzig (2020)

Scorers: Greenwood, Rashford (3), Martial

The 2020/21 Champions League group draw appeared to be a tough one for United, but they began by beating Paris Saint-Germain and then thrashed RB Leipzig 5-0 for a perfect start.

Marcus Rashford scored a hat-trick in the second half, despite starting the game on the bench. It was the first treble of his career and United’s first hat-trick from a substitute since 1999.

Despite the big win, United were still eliminated at the group stage after losing against both PSG and Leipzig in their last two games.

2. Tranmere 0-6 Man Utd (2020)

Scorers: Maguire, Dalot, Lingard, Jones, Martial, Greenwood

The first time that United scored six in a game since Ferguson retired was in an FA Cup tie against lower league Tranmere in January 2020.

It threatened to be a banana skin for United, especially on a particularly muddy pitch, but it was an extremely one-sided contest.

United scored three times in the first 16 minutes and led 5-0 by half-time.

1. Man Utd 9-0 Southampton (2021)

Scorers: Wan-Bissaka, Rashford, Bednarek (OG), Cavani, Martial (2), McTominay, Fernandes, James

United equalled their own record for the biggest win in Premier League history when they smashed Southampton 9-0 at Old Trafford in February 2021 – the record was originally set in an iconic drubbing of Ipswich 26 years earlier in 1995.

But while Andy Cole famously scored five in that game, the goals were far more spread out against the Saints, with seven different United players getting in on the act. It didn’t help Southampton that they were reduced to 10 players after two minutes, but United took full advantage.

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