Gary Neville has shared his opinion on the sacking of Ruben Amorim, advising Manchester United’s management that the club must stop experimenting with managers.
He believes United needs to appoint someone who truly understands the club’s identity and history.
Amorim was sacked on Monday, January 5, after a meeting with director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada. Reports suggest that both Wilcox and Berrada were unhappy with Amorim’s attitude during the meeting. They felt he was rude, too negative, and did not offer a clear plan for moving the team forward. This meeting played a big role in the decision to sack him.
Amorim joined Manchester United in November 2024, replacing Erik ten Hag. Ten Hag managed the club from April 2022 to October 2024 and won two trophies during his time, the EFL Cup (Carabao Cup) and the FA Cup. Despite these successes, poor league results led to his dismissal.
United hoped Amorim would bring positive change, but the results only got worse. The club finished last season in 15th place. Under Amorim’s leadership, United played 63 matches and won only 25 of them. This poor record has led many to call him one of the worst managers in the club’s history, with comparisons being made to the 1974 season, when United were last relegated.
“Louis van Gaal had his own philosophy. Jose Mourinho plays a certain style of football. So does David Moyes. Erik ten Hag, again, a very different style of football, different to what Man Utd ordinarily would play,” said Gary Neville
“Ruben Amorim, a very different style of football than Man Utd would ordinarily expect.
“The experiments have got to stop.
“There is a very good video online [where United legend] Bobby Charlton talks about what Man Utd is as a football club. Adventurous, exciting football, playing young players, entertaining the crowd. Man Utd must take risks and be courageous in playing attacking football.
“Man Utd have got to appoint a manager that fits the DNA of their club. Ajax will never change for anybody, Barcelona will never change for anybody. I don’t believe Man Utd should change for anybody.
“You can’t say these managers are not good coaches, but they’ve all come in with different ideas, different styles of play, different philosophies, and none of them really fit the Man Utd way.
“The club has to find a manager now who’s got experience, who’s willing to play fast, entertaining, attacking, aggressive football.”
For the time being, management has placed the first team under the guidance of ex-Manchester United midfielder and current U18s coach Darren Fletcher.
Manchester United are currently sixth in the Premier League table and are still fighting for a place in European competition. United’s next match is on January 7, when they travel to Turf Moor to play against Burnley.
