Ruben Amorim has not yet been able to turn things around at Manchester United. Nevertheless, the Portuguese coach does not have to fear for his job: club boss Jim Ratcliffe has given him three years to demonstrate his class.
Ruben Amorim took over as manager at Manchester United in November 2024. The hoped-for successes have not materialized so far: in his first season, the Portuguese, who was signed from Sporting Lisbon, finished only 15th in the Premier League with the Red Devils – the worst result since 1973/74. And even spending over €200 million this summer has not suddenly made United one of the top teams. There have been only three wins in seven league games, and in the League Cup, the team lost on penalties to fourth-tier Grimsby Town.
Ratcliffe warns against knee-jerk reactions
Nevertheless, the coach probably does not have to fear for his job. Club boss Jim Ratcliffe made it clear in a podcast by The Times that Amorim would not be fired so quickly: “Ruben has to prove over three years that he is a great coach. That would be my opinion on it,” Ratcliffe said.
A club like Manchester United cannot be run on the basis of knee-jerk reactions. The 72-year-old sometimes finds the press particularly difficult to understand: “They want overnight success. They think it’s like a light switch. You flip a switch and tomorrow everything is rosy.”
Instead of simply firing the coach due to a lack of results, Ratcliffe presents a long-term plan that sounds quite simple: “In my opinion, Manchester United will become the most profitable soccer club in the world, and I hope that this will result in a long-term, sustainable, and high level of soccer.” However, Manchester United’s recent history has shown that money alone does not always lead to good results.
Ferguson is the perfect example
Nevertheless, the club boss’s approach for the Red Devils is also a return to the old days: legendary coach Alex Ferguson also failed to make the top 10 in the English league three times in his first four seasons in Manchester. It also took until his fourth season for the Scotsman to celebrate his first title. History shows that patience with a coach can be rewarded with success.
It remains to be seen whether the restless environment at ManUnited is willing to wait three more seasons for a title. In any case, Ratcliffe is certain that even the Glazer family, the majority owners, will not demand Amorim’s premature dismissal: “That’s not going to happen.”
