“The era of Ruben Amorim in the shadow of failure: Alarming conclusion for Man United.”

Ruben Amorim, the former Manchester United manager, lived a true fairy tale that quickly turned into a nightmare. When he was introduced as the new head of the Red Devils, Amorim wore a dreamy smile and an almost naive confidence: “I’m a bit of a dreamer. Call me naive, but I feel like I’m the right man at the right time.” However, what followed was a series of disappointments that not only tarnished his reputation but also left the club on the brink of crisis.

With a charismatic aura that promised much, Amorim failed to translate that magnetism into concrete results. In just 14 months at the helm of United, his win percentage of 38.71% places him on a grim list alongside managers like Wilf McGuinness and Frank O’Farrell, raising the question: is he the worst manager in the club’s history since the 1930s? Expectations were high when Amorim left Sporting CP, where he achieved an unbeaten run in the Portuguese league and a second-place finish in the Champions League. However, the reality at Old Trafford proved disastrous.

In his farewell conference, Amorim lamented that “each department needs to do its job,” a statement that resonates with irony, given that his performance was far from satisfactory. The lack of understanding between the manager and the club was palpable, as evidenced by his infamous 3-4-3 tactic, which failed to adjust to the needs and expectations of the squad. What could have been a careful transition to a new era turned into a colossal miscalculation.

One of Manchester United’s main mistakes was its decision to keep Erik ten Hag for another season, allowing him to spend around £200 million on players who ultimately did not fit into Amorim’s ideas. With Ten Hag’s departure in October, Amorim, who was not among the candidates previously considered, became the only viable option. The club paid Sporting €11 million for his signing, an amount that now seems like a waste.

Amorim’s debut in charge of United was marked by a quick victory, with Marcus Rashford scoring just 80 seconds into the game against Ipswich. However, this brief euphoria was quickly overshadowed by a series of disappointing results that intensified. December 2024 was particularly treacherous, with United suffering six defeats, a feat not seen since 1930, and the only significant victory was a fluke against Manchester City.

The truth is that, although there were moments of resilience, such as the victory over City and a persistent struggle against football giants, the results against mid-table teams were disastrous. In 17 matches against opponents who finished between fifth and seventeenth place the previous season, United accumulated only 11 points, losing at home to teams like Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth, and being eliminated from the FA Cup by an unexpected Fulham.

In summary, Ruben Amorim’s time at Manchester United was not just a story of disappointment, but a warning for the club about the importance of a clear vision and effective management. His tenure, marked by mistakes and questionable decisions, leaves the door open for a new reflection on the future of the team and its leaders. The search for a new manager has already begun, and there is hope that the next one will finally be able to restore the glory that the fans so eagerly desire.