At two and a half years, Rúben Amorim’s contract as Manchester United’s manager is not a resounding long-term commitment from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s football department. It could be a wise decision by those responsible for making the best choice for the club. By studying Manchester United’s recent history, Dan Ashworth, the sporting director, and Omar Berrada, the chief executive, would have observed that since Sir Alex Ferguson left in May 2013, none of his five permanent successors have lasted three years. This highlights the instability beneath the Old Trafford hot seat, which has seen David Moyes (June 2013-April 2014), Louis van Gaal (June 2014-May 2016), José Mourinho (May 2016-December 2018), Ole Gunnar Solskjær (March 2019-November 2021), and Erik ten Hag (May 2022-October 2024) all depart before their third anniversary.
Moreover, the club’s promise of patience with managers dissolved quickly once poor results surfaced. In one of Ten Hag’s final media conferences, it was pointed out that no manager had lasted three years, and if Ratcliffe and his team recognized the need for patience, the Dutchman might need five years. Ten Hag responded: “There’s almost no club in the world where expectations are so high, set from the Sir Alex era, and we have to deal with this. The demands are the highest in every process, and we’re not there yet. We haven’t challenged for the Premier League or Champions League, but that’s the ambition.”
Reviewing each post-Ferguson failure reveals a pattern of managerial errors, poor recruitment, loss of fan support, and internal/external pressure. Moyes was sacked after 34 Premier League matches when United failed to secure a Champions League spot, due to internal pressure. His major signings, Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata, were questionable. Moyes’s declaration that Liverpool were “favorites” during a visit to Old Trafford in March 2014 alienated supporters, especially after the 2-0 Champions League loss to Olympiakos.
Van Gaal was dismissed the day after winning the 2016 FA Cup, the first post-Ferguson trophy, due to failing to qualify for the Champions League. His transfers, including Ángel Di María, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Daley Blind, were deemed average. His defensive, “anti-United” style of play lost him fan support and led to media scrutiny.
Mourinho was removed 48 hours after a 3-1 loss to Liverpool in December 2018, amid a power struggle ignited by the club’s refusal to buy Harry Maguire that summer. His “respect, respect, respect” outburst after a 3-0 home loss to Tottenham four months before his departure signaled the loss of fan faith.
Solskjær’s downfall came from failing to beat Villarreal in the 2021 Europa League final. Had he won, he might have survived the subsequent poor results that led to his dismissal in November. His tenure was marked by constant speculation about his future, and the signing of an aging Cristiano Ronaldo in summer 2021 did not help.
After these tumultuous stories, Amorim emerges as United’s first “head coach,” a role created under Ratcliffe’s new structure, suggesting that the all-powerful manager is outdated. Perhaps it also acknowledges that Amorim might not last beyond his initial contract. Amorim was previously linked with West Ham, but a €10m wage demand reportedly put off David Sullivan. Ratcliffe has agreed to Amorim’s salary, which is roughly three times his €3m (after tax) pay at Sporting. He hopes to prove his worth starting with United’s first game under him against Ipswich on November 24.
Amorim indicated on Friday that after Sporting’s match against Estrela, the “soap opera” of his move would end. However, the intense scrutiny at United begins soon. Recent years have seen too many embarrassing performances and ongoing drama. To succeed and last at least three years, Amorim must bring progress to the club.
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