Ruben Amorim's turbulent reign as Manchester United manager is over, terminated on Monday following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United. The Portuguese coach's 14-month tenure at Old Trafford concluded with a dismal record of 24 wins, 18 draws, and 21 defeats from 63 matches, yielding a win rate of just 31 per cent.
The Statistical Decline: A Record of Failure
This figure stands as the poorest win ratio for any permanent United manager in the modern era, the lowest since Frank O'Farrell's stint began in 1971. In the Premier League, Amorim averaged a meagre 1.23 points per game, the worst of any United boss since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013. While there were fleeting highs, like a 5-4 thriller against Lyon and a 2-1 win over Liverpool this season, the lows were defining and frequent.
An embarrassing Carabao Cup exit to League Two's Grimsby Town, a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final, and a 15th-place Premier League finish last season left the fanbase exasperated. A retrospective look at Amorim's first game in charge, a 1-1 draw away at Ipswich Town in January 2025, reveals the fundamental issues that would ultimately lead to his downfall.
Missed Opportunities and Tactical Stubbornness
The match at Portman Road began brightly, with Marcus Rashford scoring within three minutes. However, the promise of that start faded as Omari Hutchinson equalised before half-time. The game exposed critical flaws. Firstly, Amorim's desperate, and ultimately failed, search for a world-class striker was ironic given Rashford's early clinical finish. The academy product was later ostracised, with Amorim famously stating he'd rather have a 63-year-old coach on the bench, and is now on loan at Barcelona.
Secondly, Amorim's unwavering commitment to a 3-4-3 formation was evident from day one. Ipswich, then fighting relegation, repeatedly exploited the wide areas, delivering crosses with minimal resistance. Liam Delap, now at Chelsea, was gifted three golden chances due to woeful defending. This tactical rigidity persisted throughout his tenure, even after humiliating losses. "I won't change my philosophy. If they want it changed, you change the man," Amorim declared, a prophecy he fulfilled.
A Cultural Problem of Selfishness
The third, and perhaps most damning, issue was a deep-seated cultural problem within the squad: selfishness. During the Ipswich match, Alejandro Garnacho, played through by Bruno Fernandes with Rashford in support, chose a speculative shot over a simple pass and was tackled. This lack of team-first awareness cost United two points that day and many more thereafter.
Despite Garnacho's summer departure and a £250m spend on new players under Amorim, this issue persisted. Even in a 4-1 win at Wolves last month, players like Amad were noted for choosing ambitious shots over simpler passes to teammates. The collective good was consistently secondary to personal ambition.
The Inevitable Conclusion
In the end, the solutions seemed clear from the outset: utilise existing talent like Rashford effectively, adapt tactics to the players and opponents, and instil a team-first mentality. Amorim, however, remained true to his principles until the very end. The result was a 14-month tenure defined by record-low statistics, fan frustration, and a parting of ways that felt inevitable long before Monday's official announcement. The club now looks ahead, with the FA Cup its last remaining chance for silverware this season.
