Ruben Amorim's reign as Manchester United manager has ended with a dismal 38.71 per cent win percentage, a figure comparable to the club's worst managers since the 1930s, Wilf McGuinness and Frank O'Farrell. The Portuguese coach, who arrived with a perfect record in the Portuguese league and a Champions League victory over Manchester City, leaves Old Trafford as arguably the most disastrous appointment in the post-Ferguson era.
Amorim's struggles were evident from the outset, despite an initial encouraging debut. His side lost six times in December 2024, the first calendar month to bring six United defeats since 1930. The team's record against mid-table opposition was particularly poor, taking just 11 points from 17 matches against sides finishing between fifth and 17th last season. Home defeats to Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Wolves and West Ham underlined the scale of the crisis.
Amorim had originally wanted to delay his arrival until the summer of 2025, but was parachuted in mid-season after United's misguided decision to extend Erik ten Hag's contract and spend £200m on recruits including Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte. Neither player featured regularly under Amorim, who admitted his side were 'maybe the worst' in the club's history. His parting words at Leeds on Sunday were that 'every department needs to do their job', but he acknowledged his own performance fell well short.
United paid Sporting €11m in compensation for Amorim, who was not among the candidates considered four months earlier. The club's revolving door of managers continues, with Amorim's tenure lasting just 14 months and leaving a damning conclusion about the club's recruitment strategy.
