One Year of Ruben Amorim

One Year of Ruben Amorim

One year ago on Saturday, Ruben Amorim was appointed as head coach of Manchester United.

🇵🇹 #OTD one year ago, Ruben Amorim became our head coach 🫶 pic.twitter.com/6hgZiIl9dK

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 1, 2025

To say it’s gone to plan… would be generous.

But a year on from his appointment, United have now gone four games unbeaten after yesterday's 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

⏹️ Amad's leveller earns us a point on the road.

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 1, 2025

Amorim is not a stranger to success. In his last full season with Sporting Club, he lost just two games on his way to the title.

But at Manchester United, replicating that success has proven tricker than first planned.

Before October, Amorim’s best run as the Red Devils manager was three wins in a row—two in the Europa League and one in the Premier League—but now, he has reached four games unbeaten—three wins and a draw.

After 367 days officially at the helm—357 since he took charge of his first game—it is fair to say that Amorim has struggled. 15th in the Premier League, losing to Tottenham in the final of the Europa League, and were knocked out by Fulham in the FA Cup, a title Manchester United held.

Defeated in Bilbao.#MUFC || #UELfinal

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 21, 2025

Yet after his first full summer window, there’s finally a sense that the cogs are starting to turn. Amorim looks steadier. The football looks more intentional. The mood, if not transformed, at least feels lighter.

It is remarkable to think that this United team lost 12-11 on penalties to Grimsby just over two months ago.

Opinions remain divided, but those who wanted to see the back of Amorim are quietly buying back in.

But is this a sign of progress, or is it just the latest cycle of hope and disappointment?

What Do The Fans Think?

The past year has been tough for Manchester United supporters. Over the course of Ruben Amorim’s tenure, the club has lost 19 games.

But things are finally looking up. Carl Savage, a 35-year-old United supporter, believes Amorim has finally started to deliver on the promises of his early press conferences. “There was a storm period early on,” he says, “but now the system looks good. Weaknesses are being covered, players like Cunha and Shaw are adapting to his ideas, and the goals are starting to come.”

For Savage, the process has always been more important than the league table. He pointed towards the opening fixture of the 2025/26 season as an indicator of this. United lost 1-0 to Arsenal after another goalkeeping error from Altay Bayindir, but the mood at Old Trafford was positive.

“The team showed what is possible, yet the limitations were still there to get over the line,” he says. “It summed up both the positive and the negative narrative around the system.”

Ian Campbell, another lifelong fan, sees things a little differently. “Despite the good run of victories, he’s fallen short,” he admits. “But the last few weeks have been a breath of fresh air. We United fans have had to suffer more than we ever have in most of our lifetimes. He is showing signs of building something now, and I really like the guy.”

This cautious optimism wrapped in scepticism is commonplace amongst United fans. For every step they take forward, they take two back.

After beating Burnley, fans felt optimistic about beating rivals Manchester City. They lost 3-0.

After beating Chelsea, many fans felt the match against Brentford would only go one way. They lost 3-1.

Beaten by Brentford.

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 27, 2025

But now the wins are rolling in, and fans have a genuine reason to feel that optimism.

Amorim’s relationship with his players has drawn praise from fans, who see a manager unafraid to make difficult calls. Savage points to the early exiling of those deemed surplus to requirements, including Victor Lindelof, as a sign of decisiveness. I had concerns he would give them a clean slate and we would see more of the same again,” he says. “I'm also impressed with how he is managing the minutes of players, especially those more injury-prone.”

Campbell agrees, though he believes Amorim’s man-management is as much about personality as policy. “You can see that the players respect him and like him as a guy; he’s not much older than them himself. He’s a charming guy, no doubt,” he said.

There is no doubt that Amorim’s management of certain players has been controversial. Marcus Rashford was a fan favourite. He played over 400 times for the Red Devils, scoring 138 goals in the process.

But when Amorim came in, it was not long until the once shining jewel of Manchester was out the door. Amorim said that he would not select a player who "doesn't give the maximum every day." Other players that Amorim has dealt with include Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, and Kobbie Mainoo.

🚨 Amorim on Garnacho and Rashford: “I pay attention to everything. The way you eat, the way you put your clothes to go to a game. Everything”.

“I make my evaluation and then I decide”. pic.twitter.com/Ed3xDpBAgW

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 15, 2024

Garnacho was told by Amorim to “find a new club” after his comments following the Europa League final, Rasmus Hojlund was shipped off to Napoli, and Kobbie Mainoo is struggling for minutes after failing to impress the coach, relegated to the bench despite coming through as one of United's hottest prospects in years.

Both Campbell and Savage, though coming from slightly different perspectives, feel the sense that United are at least heading somewhere. Savage talks of “the system clicking” and “players fighting for the badge again.” Campbell, more guarded, admits that the football now feels “closer to what fans want,” even if he’s unsure how far it can take them under the current ownership.

And if there is one unified theme between them, it is the desire for stability.

United have been tumultuous over the past few years. Under Amorim, that tumult has increased, but the chaos feels a little more organised now.

Savage wants to see Amorim continue his careful recruitment and integrate academy players. Campbell, meanwhile, craves consistency, especially away from home. “I just want to know what version of United we’re getting each week,” he says. “The last few games have given me reason to dream again. More of that, please. And a few more Liverpool defeats.”

Looking Forward

As it stands, Manchester United currently sit 7th after the weekend fixtures. Had they beaten Forest, they would sit second in the table.

An early kick-off next Saturday against Tottenham Hotspur is their last fixture prior to the final international break of 2025.

Despite United dropping points from a winning position yesterday, Amorim was still feeling positive after the result. "Comparing to the recent past we had, some games in these big bad moments we struggle so much more than today,” he said. “We managed to control the emotions, to put the ball on the ground and try to push the opponent to the final third.”

Following the international break, United will host Everton before travelling to Crystal Palace. What follows is December, a period that over the year has repeatedly tested their depth and mentality.

For Amorim, these next two months will test not just his but the mentality and strength of the entire team.

Perform well, and maybe the good days are really coming.

Perform poorly, and the cycle of pressure and doubt will begin again.