Following David Moyes's ill-fated 10-month spell in charge at Old Trafford, it was left to Louis van Gaal to pick up the pieces.
The Dutchman spent big in the summer following his exploits at the World Cup with his native Netherlands, with a top-four finish and a return to Champions League football the minimum requirement.
To Van Gaal's credit, while the football was not always pretty to watch, he delivered.
Here, Sports Mole has taken a closer look at the results that the Red Devils picked up during the 2014-15 campaign.
August
It was all change at Manchester United over the summer, with the arrival of new manager Van Gaal followed by a £150m splurge in the transfer market to bring in such stars as Angel di Maria, Daley Blind and Ander Herrera.
However, that sense of renewed optimism was quickly burst as United's Premier League campaign got off to the worst possible start when they were beaten 2-1 by Swansea City at Old Trafford.
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They picked up their first point the following week against Sunderland, while a 0-0 draw away to Burnley meant that the Red Devils had taken just two points from a possible nine - not exactly a blazing opening to Van Gaal's reign.
Add to this a humiliating 4-0 defeat to MK Dons in the second round of the League Cup and you had a less-than-happy set of fans and players on the red half of Manchester.
September
With just the league to focus on for the next few months, United picked up their first victory in ruthless style as they hammered Queens Park Rangers 4-0 on home turf thanks to goals from Angel di Maria, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney.
Then came one of the most enthralling matches of the season so far. Louis van Gaal's side moved into 2-0 and 3-1 leads against Leicester City, yet they were pegged back both times before somehow losing 5-3. If anything, this game defines the shakiness of United's defence in recent times, with inexperienced players such as Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair needed at the back due to a lengthy list of injury absentees.
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They went some way to erasing that defeat from their minds in their next game, beating an in-form West Ham United 2-1 with goals from Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, though Rooney's participation was cut short when he was sent off for unceremoniously kicking out at Stewart Downing.
October
David de Gea proved how valuable he is to the side when they welcomed Everton to Old Trafford at the start of October. The Spaniard saved a Leighton Baines penalty and pulled off a string of fine stops to deny the Toffees late on as United earned a 2-1 victory - the first time that they had put together two consecutive wins since the start of the season.
An entertaining 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion followed this, while a 1-1 draw with Chelsea suggested that the never-say-die attitude of the Sir Alex Ferguson years was still present among the squad.
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With league leaders Chelsea 1-0 up through Didier Drogba and on the verge of a hard-fought victory, Van Persie fired the ball home from a corner with seconds remaining to send Old Trafford into delirium.
November
The first Manchester derby of the season arrived at the start of November, but it was to be a disappointing day for United as they went down 1-0 to their local rivals.
Their cause was not helped in the first half when Chris Smalling was sent off after picking up two yellow cards. Down to 10 men and hanging on for dear life, the visitors eventually cracked as Sergio Aguero netted the decisive goal with 25 minutes left.
Despite losing to the champions, United embarked on a six-game winning run by beating Crystal Palace before earning three important points at Arsenal.
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The Gunners were dominant on a high-octane afternoon at the Emirates Stadium, but it was the away side who came away with the spoils thanks to an own goal from Kieran Gibbs and a late strike from Wayne Rooney. The match was also notable for another fine display from David de Gea, who looked almost unbeatable between the sticks.
A largely positive month was then completed with a comfortable 3-0 triumph at home to a struggling Hull City.
December
The good times continued to roll for United with narrow wins over Stoke City and Southampton respectively, with the latter result coming thanks to two goals from Van Persie.
Then came Liverpool at Old Trafford. Last season's fixture saw the Merseysiders humiliate the Red Devils with a 3-0 win, but this time it was United who triumphed 3-0 over their bitter rivals with goals from Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and a rejuvenated Robin van Persie.
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Their six-game winning run came to an end when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa, with Radamel Falcao netting for the visitors, but normal service was resumed the following week with a resounding 3-1 victory at home to Newcastle United.
The year was brought to a close in the capital as an lively 0-0 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur made sure that United headed into 2015 on a nine-game unbeaten run.
January
On New Year's Day, the unbeaten sequence of results was extended to 10 as United travelled to the Britannia Stadium. Former United trainee Ryan Shawcross gave hosting Stoke an early lead, but Falcao secured a 1-1 draw for the away side.
Next time out, though, Southampton gained revenge for the defeat that they suffered last month when Dusan Tadic scored the only goal of the game at Old Trafford, despite United dominating the contest.
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However, United returned to winning ways instantly away at Queens Park Rangers and at home to Leicester City, the first of which saw youngster James Wilson score his first goal of the campaign.
As for the FA Cup, League One Yeovil were dispatched thanks in part to a stunning strike from Spanish midfielder Herrera, before a 0-0 draw was played out away at League Two side Cambridge United in the fourth round.
February
Wilson was among the goals again at the start of February as Cambridge were beaten 3-0 in a money-spinning replay for the U's at Old Trafford.
That handed Van Gaal's men a fifth-round tie away at Preston North End, who took the lead early in the second half as an upset looked likely. However, goals from Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and a Rooney penalty sealed progression through to the last eight of the competition.
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In the Premier League, Burnley and Sunderland were beaten at Old Trafford, but away from home, the Red Devils stuttered.
A last-minute equaliser from Blind rescued United at Upton Park, but there was no such luck at Swansea. Herrera fired United in front, but the Swans hit back to secure a 2-1 win, leaving United's Champions League chances hanging in the balance.
March
The month of March would end up being a season-defining one for United, who claimed a maximum of nine points from their three outings.
Ashley Young struck in the final minute to seal an important 1-0 win away at Newcastle United, but that was followed by the disappointment of losing 2-1 at home to Arsenal in the FA Cup. The identity of the visiting side's match-winner was galling for United as former striker Danny Welbeck returned to haunt his old employers.
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Next up was a home clash with Tottenham, and United responded by arguably producing their best display of the season, as first-half goals from Fellaini, Michael Carrick and Rooney wrapped up a 3-0 victory.
March concluded with a trip to in-form rivals Liverpool, with many pundits having tipped a home triumph. Mata had other ideas, though, scoring a brace to seal a 2-1 win from a match that will best be remembered for Steven Gerrard being sent off after just over 40 seconds on the pitch.
April
It was a mixed April for United, which got underway at home to a resurgent Villa side under the guidance of Tim Sherwood.
However, the visitors were put to the sword, thanks largely to midfielder Herrera, who was fast becoming a key part of Van Gaal's starting lineup.
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He scored twice in a 3-1 win, before United ended their poor recent derby record against City with a 4-2 victory - a game that saw goals from Young, Fellaini, Mata and centre-back Smalling.
But, just as United were riding the crest of a wave, they were brought back down to earth with a bump. Trips to champions-elect Chelsea and Everton ended with no points, no goals scored and four conceded. Those two results slightly reignited Liverpool's bid for the top four.
May
If the Merseysiders were in good spirits following those two defeats, they will have been buzzing after United's home clash with West Bromwich Albion.
The home side dominated the possession and chances, but a deflected effort from Jonas Olsson earned the visiting Baggies a smash and grab 1-0 win, which in turn cut the gap between United in fourth and fifth-placed Liverpool to just four points.
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However, United responded against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park next time out when Fellaini rose highest at the back post to score a late winning goal. That was followed by Liverpool failing to beat champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which barring a huge swing in goal difference, meant United were guaranteed a spot in the top four.
United's attention then turned to finishing third, but to do so, they would have to beat Arsenal at Old Trafford. All looked well when Herrera volleyed in his eighth goal of the season, but they were pegged back by a Blackett own goal. It was a moment that all but handed the Gunners third spot. So, with little to play for on the final day, United played out a 0-0 draw with Hull - a result that relegated the Tigers.
Liam Apicella
