Manchester United are suffering their worst start to a Premier League season since 1992-93 under Ruben Amorim, picking up merely four points from the opening four games. The Portuguese manager joined in November 2024 from Sporting CP to replace Erik Ten Hag; however, things have not gone to plan for him so far.
What was expected of Ruben Amorim at Manchester United?
Since joining, he has introduced his rigid tactics, deploying an unfamiliar 3-4-2-1 setup at Manchester United. The players struggled to keep up with Amorim’s demands last season, and the coach attributed it to a lack of time on the training ground and a lack of personnel in key positions.
Manchester United and Amorim were expected to deliver this season. Amorim was backed in the transfer window, bringing in Patrick Dorgu, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko to turn the tide. He also received an entire pre-season with his squad, providing plenty of time to familiarize his side with the new tactics. However, despite the board’s faith in the manager, he has failed to deliver in his Manchester United tenure so far.
Ruben Amorim’s Record at Manchester United
Following the embarrassing 3-0 demolition at the hands of Manchester City, Amorim now holds the record for the worst win percentage (36.17%) of any permanent manager for Manchester United since WWII.
The Portuguese boss has only won four of 26 Premier League games against non-promoted teams since taking charge. Since his first match in charge, Manchester United have picked up only 31 points with a -13 goal difference. This is the worst record out of any ever-present Premier League team in that time.
Manchester United fans will be further furious as the former Sporting CP coach was in charge of the humiliating defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League last season, ending their 17-year-long trophy drought. He also led the side that was knocked out by League Two side Grimsby Town in the second round of the EFL Cup, arguably the most embarrassing defeat in the club’s long history.
| Competition | Matches Played | Wins/Draws/Losses | Win% | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 31 | 8/7/16 | 25.80% | 31 |
| FA Cup | 3 | 1/2/2000 | 33.30% | - |
| EFL Cup | 2 | 2000/1/1 | 0% | - |
| Europa League | 11 | 8/2/2001 | 72.70% | - |
| TOTAL | 47 | 17/12/18 | 36.17% |
Manchester United Managers Since Sir Alex Ferguson
Manchester United have been merely a reflection of their former glory since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. The club has brought in several managers over the years to duplicate Sir Alex’s success at the club; however, none have come close.
| Manager | Tenure | Win Percentage in all competitions |
|---|---|---|
| David Moyes | 2013-14 | 53% |
| Louis van Gaal | 2014-16 | 52.40% |
| Jose Mourinho | 2016-18 | 58.30% |
| Ole Gunnar Solskjaer | 2018-21 | 54.10% |
| Erik ten Hag | 2022-24 | 54.70% |
| Ruben Amorim | 2024-Present | 36.10% |
Ruben Amorim Overall Coaching Record
The Portuguese manager began his coaching career at third-tier club Casa Pia and then joined Braga’s youth and reserve coaching setup. He eventually took charge of the club for 13 games through the 2019/20 season. He led Braga to the domestic league cup title and earned a move to Portuguese giants Sporting CP.
At Sporting, he was dominant and became renowned for his 3-4-2-1 tactical setup. He has won multiple silverware during his time there. He won the Primeira Liga in his first full season in 2020/21, ending Sporting’s league title drought of 19 years.
| Club | Matches | Wins/Draws/Losses | Win% | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | 47 | 17/12/18 | 36.10% | Nov. 2024 – Present |
| Sporting CP | 231 | 164/34/33 | 71.00% | Mar. 2020 – Nov. 2024 |
| Braga | 13 | 10/1/2002 | 77% | Dec. 2019 – Mar. 2020 |
Conclusion
Results are not going the way for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United so far. Pundits and fans are urging him to be flexible and tweak his tactics to better suit the squad’s strengths and weaknesses.
He, however, remains adamant about his tactical setup, which could very well cost him his career at Manchester United. Fans have been patient with the results under Amorim so far; however, his time may run out soon if he doesn’t find a fix soon.
Written by: Thillai Ritvik
