Post-Amorimism
What next for INEOS and Manchester United if sacking Ruben Amorim becomes unavoidable?
Manchester United do not want to sack Ruben Amorim.
It would be an embarrassing climbdown for United’s hierarchy to pull the plug on their first managerial hire, the man whose appointment prompted Dan Ashworth’s expensive departure, the man they decided was their long-term project.
Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox hold the keys to United’s future, backed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s money, and all three men have put immense faith in Amorim. Less than a year into his tenure, however, and the Portuguese’s future is unclear. We are even led to believe he’s considered walking away from it all – although he says otherwise and insists he feels secure in his job.
Berrada and Wilcox must be having some doubts. INEOS will certainly be reviewing the situation, with United sitting in 14th place in the Premier League with just two wins from their opening six games, plus that humiliating Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby.
If the current situation feels familiar, that’s because it is. United’s league record after six matches in 2024/25 under Erik ten Hag was identical: two wins, one draw, three defeats – one of them by a fair margin to a fierce rival. The only difference was that United thumped Barnsley 7-0 in the League Cup. The league form never improved and Ten Hag was gone by the end of October.
Amorim has no credit in the bank like his predecessor did and yet it’s feasible that he will last longer in the job, with INEOS reluctant to admit their mistake. There are a few hints that things may get better, but the evidence is scant.
The majority of Manchester United fans do not want to see Ruben Amorim sacked either. Not really. He is charismatic, a good talker and he seems to understand the club’s history and culture. It would also be refreshing (if a little idealistic), for the hierarchy and supporters to stand by a footballing philosophy such as Amorim’s. Lest we forget he was hired largely on that basis – that he had a set of principles where Ten Hag had none.
But it cannot continue like this. Losing away at Brentford has become the norm. A point away at Fulham feels par for the course. Meanwhile, struggling past relegation favourites at home, stumbling past 10 men, it does little to sate weary supporters. Amorim’s principled approach appears inflexible and stubborn in these moments.
The social media tide is already turning against him. Not many managers survive that particular storm – just ask poor old Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Amorim’s system will not change, so how likely is it that United can turn draws and defeats into wins? Can fans have genuine belief their side will see off Sunderland – newly promoted yet flying high in fifth place – on Saturday?
Win or lose, Amorim will probably stay in his job for now. One of the reasons INEOS may keep him, beyond their desire to avoid embarrassment, is the paucity of credible alternatives to step into the role.
Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola are touted by fans as options but both currently occupy Premier League jobs, would be expensive to extract and play wildly different systems. Gareth Southgate performed a miraculous cultural reset of the England team but asking him to return to club management after 16 years away makes little sense. Xavi may be an option, but he’s a rookie in Premier League terms. What about Solskjaer and Michael Carrick as a nostalgic tag team?
There are no perfect solutions.
And while that’s no reason in itself to keep Amorim, surely United will let this play out a little longer before pulling the trigger. INEOS have plenty riding on the United career of Ruben Amorim. Time is running out for everyone so heavily invested in him.
Dominic Booth