Amorim’s Tenure at United Ends Following Disappointing Performance

omidbasir- Rúben Amorim has been relieved of his managerial duties at Manchester United, just hours after publicly challenging the club’s hierarchy. This decision follows a disappointing 1-1 draw against Leeds, concluding Amorim’s 14-month tenure without any silverware and leaving the team in a position no closer to competing for titles than when he first arrived.

Amorim’s record stands as the worst for any permanent manager of United during the Premier League era, boasting a win percentage of merely 31.9%. The team’s inconsistent performances ultimately led to his dismissal, executed by Director of Football Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada.

The general sentiment from Portugal is critical, noting that his insistence on a specific playing style resulted in unsatisfactory outcomes and left fans yearning for more entertaining football. Commentator Nuno Felix, speaking to Record, remarked, “The coach cannot be exonerated. Amorim approached his first experience abroad with excessive rigidity in his ideas, almost dogmatic. He adhered to a model that did not fit the squad’s profile, lacked strategic flexibility, and was slow to adapt to the demands of a club of this magnitude. This stubbornness cost him both time and credibility, both internally and externally.”

Felix also pointed out that Amorim’s struggles were not unique. He noted that previous managers such as David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Erik ten Hag all faced similar challenges, despite their varied backgrounds and approaches. He refrained from comparing them to José Mourinho, emphasizing that Mourinho’s teams continued to compete for titles in the Premier League. “They all succumbed to the same structural problem: a club lacking a clear medium to long-term football strategy. Unbalanced, inflated squads devoid of competitive leadership, and management focused more on commercial gain than sporting success. The Glazer family has transformed United into a profit-driven entity where football is secondary and the coach is expendable.”

Felix lamented that Amorim failed to adapt, stating, “United continues to fail because it no longer recognizes itself in the mirror. As long as past glories dominate public discourse and profit remains the priority, Old Trafford will continue to witness dismissals rather than genuine rebuilding.”

Portuguese publication Ojogo echoed similar sentiments, noting that Amorim did not advance the club from the legacy of Sir Alex Ferguson. They commented, “In a club that has been a graveyard for managers since Ferguson’s departure, the young Amorim was yet another candidate to make fans forget the legendary Scottish coach. However, he leaves the Red Devils with just 24 wins in 63 matches and without any titles.”

Despite Amorim’s shortcomings, Felix believes he is not solely to blame for the negative atmosphere surrounding the club. He criticized several former players for undermining Amorim’s authority. “From early on, the Portuguese coach faced criticism and was often publicly pressured by former club figures now prominent in the media. Gary Neville, Roy Keane, and others did not just analyze; they predicted failure and perpetuated the belief that Amorim was never ‘the right man.'”

As the club seeks a new manager, the list of potential replacements includes prominent names such as former England manager Gareth Southgate and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner. Enzo Maresca, recently dismissed by Chelsea, could also be considered. In the interim, club legend Darren Fletcher has been appointed as temporary manager until a decision is reached.