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Manchester United ended Ruben Amorim’s nightmare run at Old Trafford this week following the 1-1 draw against Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday, 4 November, at Elland Road.
The Red Devils remain sixth in the league table after 20 games, just three points behind Liverpool in fourth. As such, they remain on course for a top-four finish this season, although things may not be as rosy as they appear.
United are already 17 points behind leaders Arsenal, and just four points ahead of 14th-placed Crystal Palace at present. They have won eight and drawn seven in the league this season, dropping 12 points from winning positions already.
The Red Devils have now acted swiftly to try and salvage the season. Darren Fletcher is set to be in charge for the midweek game against Burnley as the English giants look for their next manager.
Several candidates linked to the job
Amorim’s job has been under scrutiny for a while following a mixed tenure at the Theatre of Dreams. Several managers have been named as possible replacements in recent months, and those rumours have intensified in the past 24 hours.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is reportedly among the favourites for the job, while United legend Rio Ferdinand has named his four-man shortlist for the role.
Enzo Maresca, who was recently sacked by Chelsea, has been mentioned as an option. Former Bayern Munich boss and current Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has also been linked with the hot seat at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim Managerial Stats
| Team | From | To | Games Played | Games Won | Games Drawn | Games Lost | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casa Pia | 1 July 2018 | 7 January 2019 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 75.00 |
| Braga B | 16 September 2019 | 23 December 2019 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 72.73 |
| Braga | 23 December 2019 | 4 March 2020 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 76.92 |
| Sporting CP | 4 March 2020 | 10 November 2024 | 231 | 164 | 34 | 33 | 71.00 |
| Manchester United | 11 November 2024 | 5 January 2026 | 63 | 24 | 18 | 21 | 38.10 |
| Career total | — | — | 322 | 209 | 55 | 58 | 64.91 |
Source: Wikipedia
Amorim registered just 24 wins in his 63-match tenure with United, managing a win ratio of 38.10%, the lowest of his managerial career. He has now received support from a fellow manager.
Rui Borges sympathises with Amorim
Rui Borges took over at Sporting in December 2024 from Joao Pereira, who had initially replaced Amorim at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. He has since registered 38 wins from 57 matches with the Portuguese club, with a 66.67% win ratio.
Speaking following Amorim’s dismissal, as cited by O Jogo via Sport Witness, Borges said: “I am supportive of Rúben [Amorim]. Unfortunately, football is like this.”
“I will not talk much about it, but I am supportive because he is a colleague of the profession. He left the club in sixth place. Despite everything, he is a great coach and he will certainly have great projects and great clubs in the future.”
Final Thoughts
Amorim enjoyed a tremendous rise with Sporting, establishing himself as one of the most promising young managers in the world. While he failed to live up to expectations at the Theatre of Dreams, the stint is likely to be a learning experience for the Portuguese, who still has a long managerial career ahead of him.
Featured image Warren Little via Getty Images
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