AMORIM'S STABILITY AMID THE STORM

Jim Ratcliffe's unequivocal backing of Ruben Amorim has injected rare stability into Manchester United's turbulent narrative and fans of the Red Devils would want to know what is next for their Portuguese manager.

- Andy Ng Correspondent

Speaking on The Times' The Business podcast last week, Ineos billionaire Ratcliffe, who oversees football operations at United since his 2024 minority-stake acquisition, committed to giving Amorim the full three years of his contract, set to expire in 2027.

"Ruben needs to demonstrate that he's a great coach over three years," the Briton declared. "That's where I would be. Three years because football's not overnight."

This pledge, against the backdrop of United's 10th-place standing after seven English Premier League games, marks a deliberate break from the club's history of abrupt managerial sackings, echoing the patience shown to Alex Ferguson during his shaky early tenure from 1986 to 1989.

Amorim's appointment in November 2024, Ineos' first managerial hire, was pitched as a tactical coup. The 40-year-old, who masterminded two Portuguese Primeira Liga titles at Sporting Lisbon with his high-pressing, wing-back-driven 3-4-2-1 system, promised to reshape United's identity.

Yet, 11 months on, the dream has frayed.

The 2024-25 season ended in a dismal 15th-place finish - the club's lowest since their 1974 relegation - and was compounded by a Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur in May.

This campaign, United have three league wins marred by losses to Arsenal, Manchester City and Brentford.

Amorim oversaw his 50th game in charge of the club when his team beat Sunderland 2-0 before the international break, but his win rate of 40 per cent is the lowest of any permanent United manager since Frank O'Farrell in the 1970s according to ESPN.

So what lies ahead for Amorim?

Ratcliffe's three-year runway sets a clear path for a methodical rebuild.