The Matthijs de Ligt ‘Curse’: Why Dutchman’s managerial streak could spell trouble for Carrick
Michael Carrick will be hoping to end the remarkable managerial streak that has seen Matthijs de Ligt play under a different head coach every season of his professional career.
Football can be full of strange coincidences, but few are as remarkable as the managerial record that has followed Matthijs de Ligt throughout his career.
The Dutch defender has played under some of Europe’s biggest coaches, won league titles in multiple countries and represented some of the continent’s elite clubs. Yet one extraordinary statistic continues to capture the imagination of football fans.
Since making his breakthrough as a first-team player, De Ligt has never started a new season under a manager who was still in charge by the beginning of the following campaign. Every single season of his professional career has featured a different head coach.
Now, with Michael Carrick beginning the 2026-27 campaign at Manchester United, supporters have jokingly revived what has become known online as the Matthijs de Ligt curse.
The sequence began at Ajax in 2016-17 under Peter Bosz. After Bosz departed, Marcel Keizer took charge for the 2017-18 season before Erik ten Hag replaced him a year later, guiding Ajax to domestic success and a memorable run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
De Ligt then joined Juventus in 2019, but managerial stability remained elusive. Maurizio Sarri was in charge during his first season before Andrea Pirlo replaced him. Pirlo lasted just one campaign, with Massimiliano Allegri returning for the 2021-22 season.
His move to Bayern Munich did little to end the trend. Julian Nagelsmann started the 2022-23 season but was dismissed before the campaign concluded, paving the way for Thomas Tuchel. After another managerial change in Germany, De Ligt completed a move to Manchester United.
At Old Trafford, the pattern has continued. Erik ten Hag managed the defender during the 2024-25 season before Ruben Amorim took over in 2025-26. Now, following another change in the dugout, Michael Carrick has become De Ligt’s 11th different manager in 11 consecutive seasons.
For Carrick, the statistic is little more than an entertaining talking point. Managerial success or failure will ultimately depend on results, performances and the direction of Manchester United under his leadership, not a coincidence linked to one player’s career.
Still, football thrives on quirky records and unusual patterns. If history repeats itself once again, fans will inevitably joke that the Matthijs de Ligt curse has struck for an 11th straight season. Carrick will be hoping to become the first manager to finally break one of football’s most bizarre streaks.
