How Ruben Amorim's Man Utd reign turned sour
Ruben Amorim joined Manchester United hailed as one of Europe's most promising young managers yet after a mere 14 months he departed as another figure unable to restore the prestige of the struggling Premier League powerhouse.
The 40 year old Portuguese coach was dismissed on Monday having secured only 25 victories across his 63 matches at the helm prompting United to seek their seventh full time head coach since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down in 2013.
AFP Sport examines the key factors that led to Amorim's brief tenure at Old Trafford unraveling.
Stuck on an ineffective setup
Amorim gained fame by clinching two Portuguese championships with Sporting Lisbon employing his favoured 3-4-3 shape.
Even though signs showed the tactic did not suit his United squad he stuck to it rigidly once stating that "not even the Pope" could convince him to alter his approach.
Flexibility emerged only in his last few weeks when he occasionally opted for a four man defence amid injuries and players committed to the Africa Cup of Nations.
However he reverted to three at the back for his concluding pair of fixtures both 1-1 stalemates against struggling sides Wolves and Leeds leaving United in sixth position in the Premier League standings three points adrift of fourth placed Liverpool.
Clashes over signings
Tensions between Amorim and top executives surfaced in his post match interview at Elland Road on Sunday.
He remarked that he was hired as the club's "manager" rather than merely the "coach" suggesting friction with football director Jason Wilcox regarding January transfer priorities.
With no European action this term United nevertheless invested over £200 million or $269 million in summer recruits enhancing their frontline with additions like Bryan Mbeumo Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.
League position nadir in five decades
Amorim's record in the domestic campaign will haunt supporters for all the incorrect motives.
The team sat just four points shy of the top four upon his November 2024 arrival but concluded in 15th spot marking their worst Premier League placing since the 1974 drop to the second tier.
He might argue some excuse for late season struggles last year given his focus on the Europa League campaign that could have earned a Champions League return.
Yet a narrow 1-0 loss to Tottenham in the Bilbao showdown sealed a second consecutive year bereft of continental competition in 35 years.
In a farewell note to followers Amorim vowed that brighter times lay ahead.
Even following a costly refresh of attacking personnel United suffered a humiliating League Cup ouster against lower division Grimsby in August.
Though triumphs against Chelsea and Liverpool hinted at improvement the side drew a blank in four of Amorim's closing five home outings during an easy schedule raising alarms among leaders over missing out on Champions League riches once more.
Overlooking youth prospects
Manchester United's tradition of including at least one academy product in every home matchday lineup since 1937 endures unbroken.
That said Amorim faced backlash for sidelining emerging talents particularly Kobbie Mainoo.
After shining for England at Euro 2024 Mainoo's momentum has faltered with no Premier League starts this season.
To justify his choices Amorim pointed to a perceived "sense of entitlement" within the youth setup following backlash on social platforms from prospects Harry Amass and Chido Obi against his remarks.