Author: Arvin Askari

A Decade of Uncertainty:

Since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, Manchester United has experienced a revolving door of managers, each bringing their unique tactics and various degrees of success. The term “managerial bounce” is when a club experiences a period of poor results and decides to undergo a managerial change, an immediate lift in performance and winning results ensues following the change in management. This has been evident during some previous tenures; however, the issue of stability and long-term consistency has impacted the club. With the appointment of Ruben Amorim, a young, promising, and innovative coach coming from Sporting CP, Manchester United is looking not just for a bounce but for long-term cohesion. Sustained success has been missing from the club over the last decade and each manager could not emulate the great tenure of Sir Alex Ferguson. The Portuguese coach has become the sixth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.

A Look at United’s Recent Managers:

Manchester United’s recent appointment of Ruben Amorim as the new manager has brought plenty of discussions of a possible “managerial bounce”. In recent years, the managerial changes Manchester United has gone through over the past decade have seen various mixed results.

Below, is the analysis of Manchester United’s recent managers, highlighting their initial impacts, and if their tenure at the club brought any meaningful “bounce” while looking at their first 11game record.

1. David Moyes (2013-2014): 6-2-3

Handpicked by Sir Alex Ferguson as his successor, David Moyes was tasked to continue the Manchester United dynasty. He began his tenure with a 2-0 win against Wigan Athletic in the community shield, followed by a 4-1 victory over Swansea City. Soon after, a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City and a 2-1 loss to West Bromwich Albion started his downfall. In his first 11 games, United scored 17 goals and conceded 13 while averaging 1.55 points per game. Moyes notably could not command the dressing room and adapt to the club’s philosophy, leading the club to a 7th-place finish and his sacking before the end of the season.

2. Louis Van Gaal (2014-2016): 3-4-4

Coming off a strong World Cup campaign, Louis Van Gaal was selected as the second manager after Sir Alex Ferguson. His tenure started poorly with a 2-1 defeat at home to Swansea City, not an amazing sign. His possession-based football resulted in 16 goals scored and 18 goals conceded, with heavy losses like 5-3 against Leicester City and a shock 4-0 loss to MK Dons. He averaged 1.18 points per game during these 11 games. While he did secure an FA Cup trophy, his fixed tactics, lack of offensive skill, and flair led to inconsistent league performances. Ultimately his dismissal would follow.

3. José Mourinho (2016-2018): 7-1-3

Like David Moyes, José Mourinho started his tenure with a 2-1 win against Leicester City in the Community Shield. He started well by winning his first 3 Premier League games with wins against Bournemouth, Southampton, and Hull City but his first defeat came against Manchester City losing 2-1. His team scored 19 goals and conceded 12 goals in his first 11 games, averaging a record of 2 points per game. During his entire tenure, he secured trophies such as the EFL League Cup and the Europa League, being the most successful United manager since Ferguson's retirement. Despite this relative success, his defensive mindset and the on-and-off relationships with his players and management left a dysfunctional squad and his sacking in his 3rd season.

4. Ole Gunnar Solskjær (2018-2021): 10-1-0

Appointed originally as an interim manager in December 2018, replacing José Mourinho, Solskjær made an instant impact on the team. He defined the true definition of the managerial bounce by winning the Premier League Manager of the Month for January. He had a record of 10 wins and 1 draw in his first 11 games. His tenure began amazingly with a 5-1 victory over Cardiff City, setting up his impressive run. He set the tone with an impressive 1-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur and a 3-1 victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup. In these 11 games,

Manchester United scored 28 goals and conceded just 7 while averaging 2.73 points per game. This amazing start led to a full-time managerial role. However, this may have been because of the managerial bounce where in the later season the team’s inconsistency showed, leading to his sacking after three years.

5. Erik ten Hag (2022-2024): 7-0-4

Erik ten Hag, named as Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s replacement, did not have the managerial bounce he would have anticipated. He started with a 2-1 loss to Brighton, followed by a 4-0 thumping against Brentford. Luckily his season turned around when Manchester United beat Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford as they went on a four-game Premier League winning streak, beating a strong Arsenal along the way. His team scored 18 goals but conceded 17 goals, with 6 of them coming from a 6-3 disappointment against Manchester City. His early success in his first season was overshadowed, injuries and relying on individual brilliance led to inconsistency on the pitch. A lack of identity and a distinct style of play on the pitch led to high variability in every game and his eventual departure. That being said, he did have some highs by winning the EFL League Cup and the FA Cup against Manchester United in his second season.

Ruben Amorim: A New Chapter?

Ruben Amorim’s appointment brings a new chapter for Manchester United. At just 39 years old, the Portuguese manager gained significant recognition by implementing the effective 3-4-3 formation which revolves around pressing and energy. This highlighted his fluid tactics and youth development leading him to secure Sporting CP’s first Primeira Liga title in 19 years in the 2020-21 season and another title in the 2034/24 season. Amorim has developed a reputation and made a name for himself as one of Europe’s brightest tactical minds. Amorim’s 3-4-3 system aligns perfectly with United’s values and ambitions to return to the summit of the Premier League table. His emphasis on integrating youth players into the first team resonates deeply with Manchester United’s historical values and legacy as they have had at least one academy graduate in their match-day squad for over 86 years. The question now lands on whether Ruben Amorim can succeed under the heavy pressure of managing one of the world’s biggest criticized clubs.

What To Expect Under Ruben Amorim?

Tactics:

Amorim’s formation is the 3-4-3 system, that primarily prioritizes positional discipline fluid transitions and pressing. With this structure, he can offer two advantages to United: solidity in defence and creativity in attack. Manchester United, who have been impacted over the years with defensive problems and non-tactical build-up play, can now look to benefit from Amorim’s organized tactical system. This high-pressing system ensures that the opposing team makes mistakes up the pitch while the back three offer proper stability against counterattacks. Additionally, Amorim’s tactics encourage the players to adapt during the game, a skill that United was missing under former managers. His ability to create unpredictable systems could help rediscover United’s identity back on the pitch, especially against the strong teams in Europe and the Premier League.

Focus on Youth Development:

Amorim has a strong record of accomplishment of developing and integrating young talented players into his team, being the key aspect of his managerial philosophy. At Sporting CP, he guided and brought up players such as Nuno Mendes and Pedro Gonçalves, turning them into key players for their club and country. This fits perfectly with Manchester United's setup and tradition of promoting academy graduates, with young players such as Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo now under Amorim’s guidance. Ruben Amorim’s ability to balance the development of young talents with the ability to win games could help strengthen United's squad depth and set a foundation for long-term success. Manchester United fans will be excited to see how he will integrate young talents into the first team and who will be the talent that Amorim will bring to the first team sheet.

Immediate Challenges:

Ruben Amorim’s early schedule consists of many challenges. In his first 11 even games he needs to come up against teams such as Arsenal and Manchester City and an EFL League Cup quarter-final match against Tottenham Hotspur. His first two games have already been interesting, where he drew 1-1 in his first Premier League game away at Ipswich and a dramatic 3-2 home victory against Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League. These results offer glimpses of Amorim’s tactical impact but also demonstrate the defensive vulnerabilities that his team has that need to be resolved quickly should he wish to keep his job.

Patience with Success:

Ruben Amorim is inheriting a team that has remarkably high expectations but a weak foundation. While the Manchester United fans want immediate results, constant success will depend on his ability to integrate his managerial philosophy throughout his tenure. Former managers have been impacted by the need for immediate success, and Ruben Amorim must find that balance by satisfying the immediate demands and changes whilst laying the foundation for sustainability. If he can manage this, then he will no doubt succeed in the areas where the others have failed and bring success back to one of the most scrutinized clubs in the world

Conclusion:

Ruben Amorim not only brings innovation and energy but a clear vision that will guide Manchester United in the right direction. Already having coached two matches, Amorim has already shown promise with his tactics and ideas being put into effect in the players, where his tenure will be defined by his ability to bridge the gap between potential and achievement. The question remains, can Ruben Amorim’s tactics and passion for youth development create a foundation for long-term success? Or will he, like the managers before him, crumble to the constant pressure of managing Manchester United? Thus, the Ruben Amorim era has started, and his ability to thrive will determine if it becomes the turning point in Manchester United’s search to reclaim that Premier League title that has not been home since 2013.

Data Sources: FotMob, ESPN, Transfermarkt