Looking back at everything you need to know from the 2025/26 Manchester United season.
It was a season of two halves for Man Utd in 2025/26, with Ruben Amorim’s suffering replaced by Michael Carrick’s euphoria in January.
It marked the return of the club to the Champions League after two seasons out, with the club accruing the fourth-highest points total since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Bruno Fernandes entered history books by breaking the Premier League assist record as a campaign that was derailing under Amorim was launched into the stars by Carrick.
Managers: Ruben Amorim, Darren Fletcher (caretaker), Michael Carrick [Interim-turned-permanent]
🔴⚪️⚫️Sum up the 2025/26 season for Manchester United…
A fourth highest points tally since Sir Alex Ferguson retired!⚡️
Season outcome and top scorer
- Premier League position: 3rd
- Points total: 71
- FA Cup: Third round
- Carabao Cup: Second round
- Trophies: 0
Elimination from the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup at the first chance of asking led to Man Utd playing just 40 games this season, a lowest-ever total since 1981/82.
Carrick worked miracles to solidify third place in the league, comfortably qualifying for the Champions League, while there was obviously no silverware lifted, as there were no European games either.
Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko finished as joint-top scorers for the club, with 12 goals each. Scoring by committee saw Matheus Cunha also hit double figures, while Fernandes ended with 30 goals plus assists.
- Top scorer: Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko – 12
READ: Manchester United player ratings for 2025/26
Signings
- Bryan Mbeumo
- Matheus Cunha
- Benjamin Sesko
- Senne Lammens
- Diego Leon*
*Leon was an academy signing-cum-senior player. He wouldn’t make a first-team appearance.
Memorable matches
Carrick was the architect of the most ‘good’ memorable matches this season, but Amorim’s United will make an appearance or two to keep things balanced.
Grimsby 2-2 Man Utd [loss on penalties]
This wasn’t the ‘good’ kind of memorable, but Man Utd fans won’t forget that this game happened for years to come.
All the momentum from Amorim’s strong start to the season in terms of performances was sapped at the hands of a League Two side.
Amorim spoke like a broken man afterwards, and it was a sign of things to come.
Liverpool 1-2 Man Utd
Nobody gave United a chance after a stuttering start to the season, while Liverpool’s results were good, albeit lucky.
However, Amorim played a tactical blinder to completely outwit Slot, and Bruno Fernandes got his first assist of the season with a header for Harry Maguire as the winner.
That knee slide will go down in folklore.
Man Utd 2-0 Man City
The head coach was sacked, the caretaker didn’t win, and for Michael Carrick, the first game was the Manchester Derby.
No problem, said Carrick, as United blew City apart in a breathtaking display of counter-attacking football that saw the Old Trafford faithful cast their minds back to Sir Alex’s days.
Carrick era had begun in style.
Arsenal 2-3 Man Utd
City win could be the new manager bounce that would be deflated when United faced leaders Arsenal, who just don’t lose at home.
Cue wonderstrikes from Dorgu and Cunha, who stunned Arsenal to hand them their first home loss of the season in the league.
If the City win kickstarted the Carrick era, this one sent it into overdrive.
Brighton 0-3 Man Utd
The last game of the season had low stakes for United as third place was already sealed, but this will forever be remembered as the game where Bruno Fernandes created PL history.
He assisted Patrick Dorgu for his 21st assist of the season, ensuring he stands alone at the top of single-season assist charts.
United did the double over Brighton, their bogey team, and Carrick started his permanent Man Utd manager tenure with a win.
Carrick says Top 5 isn’t enough. Honestly, based on his run, do you think we are a genuine Title Contender for next season?
What else happened in 2025/26
This section can’t begin with anything other than Ruben Amorim’s sacking, who burned all his bridges on the way out with a remarkable press conference after the Leeds draw in January.
He called out everyone at the club and forced Ineos to sack him, which they promptly did the day after. That would prove to be an inspired gamble.
Elsewhere, United’s academy sides became nearly men, falling short in three finals, but gaining a superstar in JJ Gabriel, who had a record-breaking season at just 15.
Debuts for Tyler Fletcher and Shea Lacey, among others, continued a tradition at the club, while the curtain came down on the Man Utd career of Rasmus Hojlund.
Ultimately, United ended the season in a much better place than the last one, even if they had to sacrifice their “project” under Amorim for it.
Carrick got announced as the permanent manager ahead of the last game of the season to much fanfare, and he will have the chance to lead United to their first title since Sir Alex retired.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
