- Ex-Manchester United head coach on the move
- Rubn Amorim linked to Crystal Palace
- Will he make a return to the Premier League?
Former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim does not intend to take charge of a team during the 2026/27 campaign, amid links with Crystal Palace and Benfica.
The Portuguese coach has been in management since 2018, when he was just 33. But now looks set to step away for the first time, taking a sabbatical, per A Bola.
With Oliver Glasner already confirmed to be leaving Palace, the Eagles have been scrambling to identify a suitable replacement for their departing German manager. Amorim’s name has recently emerged in that search. Despite a turbulent spell at United, there is no denying the success he achieved earlier in his managerial career.
Ruben Amorim’s Old Trafford Turmoil
Tension had already begun to simmer among Manchester United supporters prior to the Portuguese coach’s dismissal. Amorim’s 14-month tenure, spanning from November 2024 to January 2025, was a rollercoaster.
There were high points, of course. A 2-1 victory over Manchester City just a month into his reign, while a 2-1 win against Liverpool earlier in the season arguably carried even greater weight.
But the low points ultimately overshadowed.
A 15th-place league finish—the club’s lowest since relegation in 1974—a humiliating defeat to fourth-tier Grimsby Town in the League Cup second round, and, of course, the 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final—the fourth time United had fallen to Spurs that season, despite the London side finishing 17th.
Momentum briefly hinted at recovery, but reality hit hard when United followed it up with back-to-back draws against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United.
Just 12 hours after the Leeds fixture, Amorim was dismissed. Not purely for results, but for openly challenging the club’s hierarchy.
“I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach. And that is clear. I am the manager of Manchester United,” Amorim said in his final post-match press conference. “It is going to be like this for 18 months, or when the board decide to change. I am not going to quit.”
It marked yet another peculiar moment in a season defined by instability.
How Quickly Times Change
Less than four months on from Amorim’s dismissal, and United find themselves in a far stronger position. Under interim head coach Michael Carrick, the side has undergone a clear revival.
12 games, eight wins, two draws, and two losses.
Operating within a more refined 4-2-3-1 structure, players now occupy roles that better align with their natural profiles, with Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, and Casemiro all thriving within a more balanced midfield unit.
Mainoo, in particular, has flourished. After pushing for a loan exit due to his treatment under Amorim, the Englishman has rediscovered his rhythm and reminded many why he is regarded as one of the most promising midfielders in world football.
Bruno Fernandes has also benefited from the tactical shift. While he still performed admirably under his Portuguese compatriot, Carrick’s system has unlocked another level in his output.
The midfielder has surged from eight assists to 18 in just 12 matches, with five games remaining to chase down Thierry Henry’s and Kevin De Bruyne’s record of 20 in a single Premier League season.
United now look poised for a return to the Champions League. A victory against Brentford on Monday, 27 April, would leave them just two points shy of qualification.
While Amorim will, rightly, face criticism for his tenure, the Portuguese coach undoubtedly refined certain aspects of the squad that continue to benefit the side today.
