Ruben Amorim knows just how close he’s come to the edge. After a chaotic debut season that saw Manchester United finish 15th in the Premier League — their worst in modern history — and a heartbreaking Europa League final defeat to Tottenham, the Portuguese coach admits he’s “really lucky” to still be in the job.
And he’s not wrong. Few managers survive results like that at Old Trafford. But in a rare show of patience, United’s new leadership, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has decided to give Amorim the full length of his three-year, $23 million USD contract to try and steady the ship.
It’s a gamble rooted in belief — and maybe necessity — as the club searches for consistency after years of instability.
When Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon, he was seen as a bold choice. Young, tactically progressive, and admired for his attacking philosophy, he represented a break from the past. Yet the transition from Portugal to the Premier League has been anything but smooth.
Last season’s 15th-place finish was a disaster by any measure. United’s defense looked disorganized, their midfield unbalanced, and their attack toothless for long stretches. For weeks, speculation swirled that the club might cut ties with the 40-year-old early — especially after a series of post-match interviews in which Amorim looked more frustrated than ever.
But to his surprise, the club stuck by him. “I’m really lucky to be here,” he admitted this week. “It’s hard to see a coach lose a European final and stay, but maybe this is what Manchester United are thinking — let’s give time to the coach and see what happens.”
That comment reveals the contrast between the old United and the new one. Under previous ownership structures, a manager with such results would likely have been dismissed months ago. But with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group now playing a central role in football operations, there’s a push for a more long-term, data-driven approach — one that prioritizes structure over quick fixes.
Interestingly, though, insiders have revealed that Ratcliffe wasn’t fully convinced by Amorim when Erik ten Hag was dismissed. He reportedly preferred someone with Premier League experience, considering names like Thomas Frank and Graham Potter. Yet the club ultimately went with Amorim after strong internal backing from the football operations team.
To his credit, Amorim has shown signs of turning things around. After months of inconsistency, United recently won three consecutive league games, marking their first winning streak in nearly a year. The results have not silenced critics, but they’ve bought him breathing space, and perhaps more importantly, belief within the squad.
