Ruben Amorim report card: Man Utd boss GRADED after tough year, £250m spent and huge refusal

A year into Ruben Amorim’s turbulent reign at Manchester United, we take a full look at his highs, lows and whether he’s made any real progress at Old Trafford

Few managerial debuts at Manchester United have been as turbulent as Ruben Amorim’s. Hailed as a modern tactician and a symbol of renewal upon his arrival from Sporting CP, the Portuguese coach has endured a year that has often veered from difficult to disastrous.

Expectations were high, but the harsh reality of Premier League football has left him exposed to mounting criticism, lingering uncertainty and an increasingly restless fanbase. In the 12 months since his appointment, Amorim has spent more than £250million reshaping the squad, yet tangible progress remains elusive.

Performances have fluctuated wildly, results have disappointed and the team’s identity continues to feel like a work in progress rather than a finished product. His outright refusal to budge from his 3-4-3 system – a formation demanding both tactical discipline and a full-scale personnel overhaul – has also come under scrutiny.

Adaptation has been painfully slow, though flashes of cohesion in recent weeks suggest the tide may be beginning to turn. For now, however, those glimpses of optimism have been too fleeting to silence his critics.

Here, Mirror Football takes a closer look at Amorim’s first year in charge – grading him on results, performances, recruitment, man-management and his relationship with both fans and the board.

Man Utd’s form

Grade: D

Amorim’s inaugural year at United has been defined by persistent inconsistency and underwhelming performances, particularly in the Premier League last season, where the team slumped to an abysmal 15th-place finish – the lowest in the club’s history.

While there were flashes of promise in the Europa League, a crushing defeat to a similarly unconvincing Tottenham side in the final not only denied United a shot at silverware and a return to the Champions League, but also encapsulated the malaise engulfing the club.

The campaign was plagued by defensive frailties and a lack of cohesion, with United frequently looking disjointed on the ball and alarmingly fragile off it. It also took Amorim over 11 months to record consecutive Premier League victories – a stark measure of his slow adaptation to the demands of English football.

Recent weeks have offered tentative signs of improvement, with a string of positive results injecting some optimism into the 2025/26 campaign. However, these flashes of form cannot mask the broader narrative of mediocrity, with Amorim winning just 40 per cent of his matches in all competitions.

Ultimately, the Portuguese coach has fallen far short of expectations at a club crying out for revival. The occasional bursts of positivity offer some hope, but they are dwarfed by a year defined by inadequacy, inconsistency and unmet promise.

Transfers

Grade: B

Amorim’s recruitment has been a bright spot in an otherwise turbulent year. The £200m outlay on Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo appears to have been money well spent, with the trio injecting much-needed energy and purpose into United’s attack. Meanwhile, Senne Lammens and Ayden Heaven look like shrewd, low-cost additions who could prove valuable over time.

Each signing reflects a clear targeting of profiles that suit Amorim’s tactical blueprint. United needed dynamic wing backs – in came Patrick Dorgu. They needed versatile inside forwards – enter Mbeumo and Cunha. This has not been scattergun spending, it’s been recruitment with intent and precision.

That said, their business has not been flawless. None of the new arrivals have yet delivered truly transformative performances and critics might argue that Amorim focused too heavily on reinforcing attacking areas while leaving persistent weaknesses at wing back, centre back and centre midfield largely unaddressed.

Still, the overall spend represents a step forward – a more coherent, strategic approach to squad building that refreshes the team without the reckless extravagance of previous regimes. It’s recruitment that earns a respectable grade for both its clarity of vision and long-term potential.

Handling of players

Grade: C

Assessing Amorim’s player management is tricky – it’s been a clear case of hits and misses. On the positive side, his firm stance with underperforming stars such as Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho last season deserves recognition.

By side-lining them for poor application in training, Amorim sent a strong message about standards and accountability, something that had seemingly eroded under Erik ten Hag. Several senior players – most recently Mason Mount – have since praised his approach and reports suggest the overall dressing-room atmosphere is far more unified than it used be.

However, these positives are offset by notable missteps. The prolonged isolation of Rashford and Garnacho ultimately damaged both their confidence and their market value. United received just £40m for Garnacho in the summer, having asked for £70m in January, while Rashford’s resurgence at Barcelona has cast doubt on Amorim’s judgement in deeming him expendable.

The underuse of academy prodigy Kobbie Mainoo is another concern. Amorim’s apparent lack of faith in the midfielder risks alienating a homegrown talent who could become a cornerstone elsewhere if not handled carefully.

In sum, Amorim’s handling of players has combined moments of strong leadership with costly errors in man-management. The squad appears more disciplined and unified – but the lingering fractures and questionable personnel calls justify only a middling grade.

What he’s achieved

Grade: F

Amorim’s first year has produced little to celebrate. The former Sporting CP coach initially failed to halt United’s decline and despite steadying to wobbling ship in recent weeks, tangible results are yet to be achieved.

Under Amorim, United spent the bulk of last season hovering just above the relegation zone and a torrid 15th place finish, coupled with a crushing defeat in the Europa League final, left the season empty of both silverware and optimism. United swung and missed at every opportunity for progress.

This season has brought more of the same. A humiliating League Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Grimsby Town extinguished what was arguably their best chance at a trophy and while things are looking up in the Premier League at the moment, United are still a long way from being where they’d like to be.

On paper, Amorim’s tenure has yielded nothing of substance… yet. A recent run of three consecutive league wins has injected a flicker of hope, but the manager remains without a single meaningful milestone or success to his name. In short, it has been a year of unrelenting underachievement – and one that fully justifies the harshest possible grade.

What fans think of him

Grade: C

Fan sentiment towards Amorim is broadly supportive yet laced with frustration, reflecting a base of goodwill tempered by impatience for consistent results. Many appreciate his articulate communication, his grasp of United’s storied heritage and his realistic pledges to restore glory without overpromising. That authenticity has earned him patience from a fan base desperate for stability and a return to top-four contention.

Still, scepticism lingers. Many supporters question whether Amorim has the pedigree to end United’s long Premier League drought, with little in the way of consistent results to inspire confidence. Since March, United have managed just six league wins – a statistic that fuels the argument that progress under Amorim is more theoretical than tangible. Calls for his dismissal, though still a minority view, have grown louder in certain corners of the fanbase, particularly after their slow start to the current campaign and in the wake of the Grimsby result.

Overall, fans appear to admire his tactical ideas, philosophy and temperament, but their endorsement remains conditional. Until Amorim can translate principles into sustained success, belief in his long-term project will remain hesitant – and, for now, a C grade feels about right.

What the board thinks of him

Grade: B

The board, spearheaded by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, maintains strong backing for Amorim, viewing him as a strategic, long-term appointment deserving of patience to embed his philosophy. Substantial transfer support – evidenced by the £220m summer outlay – signals confidence in his blueprint and Ratcliffe’s public commendations point to a belief in his potential to rebuild sustainably.

That said, there are signs of pragmatic caution behind the scenes. Reports of contingency planning for a possible dismissal suggest the board is prepared to act if results take another downward turn – a reminder that Amorim’s position is far from secured. After all, Ten Hag was similarly backed both publicly and financially before being dismissed following a poor start to the previous campaign.

In essence, the board’s stance combines conviction with conditional loyalty. Amorim continues to enjoy strong institutional support, but it is tethered to visible progress. Faith in the 40-year-old remains, but it won’t take an much for that faith to be eroded.

How he handles himself in the media

Grade: B

Given the turmoil surrounding both Amorim and United over the past year, his media handling has been commendably assured. He has projected honesty, composure and accountability, facing difficult questions head-on without resorting to evasion or empty rhetoric. Even amid scrutiny, Amorim has defended his players and tactics with measured conviction, maintaining a calm, grounded demeanour throughout.

The criticisms are relatively minor. He lacks the charisma and showmanship of some of his predecessors and can occasionally appear reserved or disengaged under the media glare. But these are minor quibbles in the context of his overall professionalism. Amorim’s clarity, composure and refusal to inflame controversy have earned him quiet respect – both within the club and among the press.

What his prospects look like

Grade: C

Amorim’s future at Manchester United hangs in a delicate balance. Recent improvements – including a string of three successive league wins – suggest the team is beginning to find its rhythm, displaying greater tactical cohesion and resilience. For the first time in months, United no longer look adrift, and there are tentative signs that Amorim’s methods are finally taking hold.

If this trajectory continues, that C could quickly rise to a B, especially as United edge closer to re-entering the top-four conversation. But vulnerabilities persist. The squad still lacks the quality and consistency of genuine contenders and another sustained dip in form could test the board’s patience and place Amorim’s position under renewed threat.

Ultimately, his prospects are promising but precarious. Amorim has laid the groundwork for improvement, but his long-term future depends on whether he can turn glimpses of progress into sustained success. For now, time – and results – will be the ultimate judge.

Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.