Ruben Amorim's Future at Manchester United and Club's Financial Outlook
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim requires three years to establish himself as a "great" coach, according to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Amorim is set to complete his first year at Old Trafford this November, but his tenure has been marked by disappointing results since his arrival from Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon.
Last season, United finished 15th in the Premier League, their worst performance since the 1973-74 season, which resulted in relegation from the top tier.
Despite a summer spending spree exceeding £200 million, the club has already suffered three league defeats this season and was eliminated from the EFL Cup by League Two side Grimsby Town.
While sources close to Ratcliffe have indicated that Amorim is not in immediate danger of losing his job, speculation arose prior to last weekend's 2-0 victory over Sunderland, suggesting that his position could be at risk if the team failed to secure a win.
In an interview on The Times' podcast, "The Business," Ratcliffe clarified that this was not the case, expressing confidence in Amorim's abilities and emphasizing that the manager needs time to prove himself.
"He has not had the best of seasons," Ratcliffe acknowledged. "Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years. That’s where I would be."
There has been considerable external criticism regarding the 40-year-old Amorim's potential for success at United, particularly concerning his steadfast adherence to a 3-4-2-1 formation. Ratcliffe dismissed these opinions, suggesting they stem from a lack of understanding.
"The press, sometimes I don’t understand," he remarked. "They want overnight success. They think it’s a light switch—you flick it, and everything will be perfect tomorrow. You cannot run a club like Manchester United based on knee-jerk reactions to journalists' opinions."
Ratcliffe, who owns nearly 30% of United and oversees all significant football decisions despite the Glazer family's majority stake, defended the Glazers, who gained control of the club through a leveraged buyout in 2005, stating they receive undue criticism. When asked if they might instruct him to dismiss Amorim, Ratcliffe replied, "That’s not going to happen."
United Aiming to Become 'Most Profitable Club in the World'
Last month, Manchester United reported a reduction in losses from £113.2 million to £33 million for the year ending June 2025. This improvement followed two rounds of layoffs, resulting in over 400 job losses, including many long-serving staff members, particularly in scouting.
Ratcliffe has faced backlash for these job cuts and for eliminating long-standing employee benefits, such as free lunches. He explained, "The costs were just too high. There are some fantastic people at Manchester United, but there was also a level of mediocrity, and it had become bloated. I received a lot of criticism for the free lunches, but no one has ever given me a free lunch."
He emphasized the dual nature of a football club—both the business and sports sides—stating, "The biggest correlation, whether you like it or not, between results and any external factor is profitability. The more cash you have, the better squad you can build."
Ratcliffe noted that last year, United achieved their highest revenue ever and the second-highest profitability, predicting that these figures will continue to improve. "Manchester United will become the most profitable football club in the world, in my view, and from that, I hope will stem a long-term, sustainable level of high-quality football," he concluded.