Ruben Amorim doomed to oversee Manchester United’s worst-ever Premier League season

Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United has fallen far short of expectations since his appointment in November 2024. As the 2024–25 campaign approaches its conclusion, the Portuguese manager is on course to oversee the club’s worst-ever season in Premier League history.

The season began on shaky ground, with Erik ten Hag dismissed in October following a string of poor results. Amorim inherited a team sitting 12th in the table with just 15 points from 11 matches. Tasked with turning things around, he has struggled to make a meaningful impact.

During the winter transfer window, United saw more departures than arrivals—signing only Patrick Dorgu—leaving the squad short-handed. Injuries, a lack of depth, and a mismatch between the squad and Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 system have only made matters worse.

After the 0-1 loss against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United currently sit 14th in the table with 38 points through 33 games. Even if they win their remaining five fixtures, a maximum of 53 points would still set a new low for the club in the Premier League era.

Ironically, the current low was set just last season under Ten Hag, when United finished 8th with 60 points—surpassing the previous worst finish of 7th under David Moyes in 2013–14. Now, Amorim is hoping to salvage the season with a potential Europa League title.

Amorim approaches a record not seen since Sir Alex Ferguson

In stark contrast to his successful spell at Sporting Lisbon, Amorim has struggled to find footing in Manchester. So far, he has managed 34 games in all competitions, with a record of 14 wins, 7 draws, and 13 losses. In league play alone, he’s approaching a negative benchmark not seen since Sir Alex Ferguson’s early years.

With 15 league defeats this season, Amorim is nearing the 16 losses Ferguson endured during the 1989–90 campaign—two years before the Premier League was established. That season, United finished 13th in the First Division.

Remarkably, the club stuck with Ferguson after that underwhelming year—a decision that paid off with 13 Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies. Whether United will show similar faith in Amorim remains to be seen. The question now is whether he will be trusted to lead a long-term rebuild, or become the latest name in a growing list of managerial missteps during United’s ongoing decline.