Top 10 soul-crushing experiences of the decade for Manchester United (2010-2019)

#2 The retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson - 2012

Sir Alex Ferguson's departure was a big blow to the club and fans

The many titles Sir Alex Ferguson brought to Manchester United are, without doubt, one of the greatest managerial achievements of all time, and it was always going to be difficult to replace him. This is why fans were so disheartened to see him go. Nobody begrudged him his retirement party, of course! It was just a painful time for the Red Devils' fans who were left gazing into a worrying and uncertain future. How right they were to be worried.

Since his retirement speech eight years ago, Manchester United have failed to win the Premier League, wasted £600 million on transfers, struggled in Europe, and slipped further and further down the pecking order with regard to Europe's elite sides... they even had to make do with a four-and-a-half-star rating on the current edition of the video game FIFA!

In truth, it was never going to be easy to replace SAF, but seeing how far the club has fallen since his retirement must make it even more difficult for the United faithful.

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#1 "AGUUUEEEERRROOOOOOOO" - 2011

Aguero's late winner against QPR was truly spectacular

Sergio Aguero's title-clinching last-gasp winner against Queens Park Rangers will probably go down as 'the greatest moment in the history of the Premier League' - and it truly was spectacular.

United was made of much sterner stuff back then though, and the players and staff regrouped: Ferguson brought in Robin van Persie and, the next season, the much-admired manager and the Dutchman, signed from Arsenal for £25 million, dragged a sub-par United squad across the finishing line to their most recent (and final) EPL title win.

Despite the resurgence shown in 2012, the reason Sergio Aguero's 3-2 injury-time winner against QPR moment ranks number one in the list is simple - it's when the balance of power finally shifted in Manchester. It's the precise moment United fans realized that they were being outspent in the market by a richer club who were now capable of not only beating them, but of playing more attractive football; and, despite the title-winning efforts of Van Persie and Co. the following season, the power never really returned to the red side of Manchester; and that's what hurts the most about it.