At Old Trafford, the winds of uncertainty are blowing once again. Nearly a year after Rúben Amorim’s appointment as Manchester United manager, questions are mounting about his future — and reports suggest Sir Jim Ratcliffe isn’t fully convinced he’s the man to lead the Red Devils forward.
While the Portuguese tactician has steadied the ship somewhat in recent weeks, United’s performances remain far below the club’s lofty expectations. Behind the scenes, Sir Jim is already looking at potential alternatives — and this time, he wants someone with Premier League experience.
When Amorim arrived from Sporting CP, he was hailed as one of Europe’s most exciting young coaches. His tactical versatility and ability to develop players fit perfectly with Ratcliffe’s long-term vision for United. But the honeymoon period didn’t last.
Almost 12 months into his tenure, the team’s inconsistency has become impossible to ignore. United have shown flashes of improvement — including a recent run of three consecutive wins — but the broader picture still worries many at the top. After a disappointing Europa League final loss last season and a shaky domestic campaign start, faith in Amorim is thinning.
The 40-year-old manager has faced pressure before, but this time feels different. The loss to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup last year and the club’s poor away record have left fans restless. Even with recent victories, United sit outside the Premier League’s top four, and critics question whether Amorim’s approach fits the brutal pace and physicality of English football.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who became a minority shareholder in 2024 after investing over $1.5 billion USD, reportedly prefers a more proven Premier League figure. According to The Guardian, his ideal shortlist includes Thomas Frank (Brentford), Eddie Howe (Newcastle United), and Graham Potter (formerly Chelsea and Brighton) — managers who understand the league’s unique challenges and media scrutiny.
Ratcliffe’s reluctance toward Amorim isn’t new. When United parted ways with Erik ten Hag, reports suggest he was “unimpressed” by the shortlist of foreign managers proposed by then-sporting director Dan Ashworth. The billionaire wanted someone pragmatic — a coach who could handle the Premier League’s pressure cooker and revive United’s identity through discipline and experience rather than experimentation.
Sources close to the club claim Ratcliffe pushed for a name who could “understand the English game’s rhythm,” but Ashworth and others in the hierarchy leaned toward Amorim’s fresh perspective. That internal tug-of-war might explain why the club’s leadership dynamic has looked fractured at times since his arrival.
Now, as Amorim approaches his one-year anniversary at Old Trafford, Ratcliffe’s patience appears to be wearing thin. And one name keeps coming up: Gareth Southgate.
The former England manager is reportedly Ratcliffe’s preferred option to take over if United decide to move on from Amorim. Known for his calm demeanor and man-management skills, Southgate is seen as a steadying figure who could restore order at a volatile club.
However, Southgate himself has made it clear that he’s not interested in a quick fix. Speaking privately, he’s said that if he were to take over a club of Manchester United’s scale, he would need at least three years to implement his ideas and see tangible results. That kind of patience has been rare at Old Trafford in recent years, where the managerial cycle seems to reset every 18 months.
