Rúben Amorim’s United missteps versus Milan revival: lessons learned

Rúben Amorim, who led Manchester United through a turbulent spell, admitted “many errors” and said he “learned a lot” from his time at Old Trafford. He now heads AC Milan, unveiling his vision during the club’s Australian pre‑season tour, as reported by Sports Illustrated.

El técnico portugués arrived at Manchester United after winning two Primeira Liga titles with Sporting CP Lisboa, and the club paid up to £11 million to release him from his Portuguese contract. Fourteen months later the English side paid an additional £15.9 million to terminate his contract and that of his staff.

Amorim’s three‑centre‑back system never found a foothold in the Premier League, leaving United overly vulnerable to opponents’ control. The approach had not been successfully replicated in England since Antonio Conte’s title‑winning Chelsea side a decade earlier.

Relations with United’s hierarchy, including sporting director Jason Wilcox, deteriorated, culminating in a public clash after a 1‑1 draw with Leeds United, Amorim’s final match in charge. The club formally rescinded his contract in January 2026, and Michael Carrick’s appointment as successor only deepened the negative perception of Amorim’s legacy.

AC Milan named Amorim as Massimiliano Allegri’s successor on 15 June 2026, tasking him with restoring the Rossoneri’s historic Serie A stature. The club, Scudetto champions in 2021‑22, had slipped to eighth and fifth place in the two most recent campaigns, below expectations.

Speaking to the press in Australia, Amorim told Sports Illustrated, “The first thing is that it no longer matters,” emphasizing a shift in focus to new challenges. He added, “I learned a lot,” and accepted responsibility for his mistakes, noting that self‑reflection could make him a better coach and person.

Over 63 matches in charge, Amorim recorded 25 wins, 15 draws and 23 defeats, a 39.7 % win rate – the lowest for any United manager in the Premier League era. United also conceded 1.53 goals per game and kept clean sheets in just 15 % of matches, both the worst figures in the club’s history, leaving a goal difference of only +8.