2021–22 Manchester United F.C. season
| 2021–22 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Manchester United players during a UEFA Champions League match against Villarreal CF in September 2021 | ||||
| Co-chairmen | Joel and Avram Glazer | |||
| Manager | Ole Gunnar Solskjær (until 21 November) Michael Carrick (caretaker; 21 November – 2 December) Ralf Rangnick (interim; from 3 December) | |||
| Stadium | Old Trafford | |||
| Premier League | 6th | |||
| FA Cup | Fourth round | |||
| EFL Cup | Third round | |||
| UEFA Champions League | Round of 16 | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Cristiano Ronaldo (18) All: Cristiano Ronaldo (24) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 73,564 (v. Chelsea, 28 April 2022) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 71,871 (v. Middlesbrough, 4 February 2022) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 73,150 | |||
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The 2021–22 season was Manchester United's 30th season in the Premier League and their 47th consecutive season in the top flight of English football.
On 27 August 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the club from Juventus, 12 years after leaving for Real Madrid in 2009 for a world-record transfer fee.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær began his third full season in charge following a second-place finish the previous season and a loss in the Europa League final. Despite a strong start, he was sacked on 21 November after winning just one league game in seven. First-team coach Michael Carrick took charge as caretaker for three games, after which Ralf Rangnick was appointed interim manager on 3 December and oversaw the team until the end of the season. Erik ten Hag was appointed Solskjær's permanent successor on 21 April and took over following the final game of the campaign.
This was United's fifth consecutive trophyless season, their longest drought since a six-season run between 1968–69 and 1973–74. They recorded their worst points tally in the Premier League era, finishing with just 58 points. Despite this, they placed sixth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League. United were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the third round by West Ham United, and out of the FA Cup in the fourth round by Middlesbrough on penalties. United were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in the Round of 16 by Atlético Madrid.