The seven key moments in Ruben Amorim's downfall

Ruben Amorim was hailed as 'one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football' when he signed a two-and-a-half year deal at Manchester United in November 2024.

Having initially been in the frame to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool - thanks to the exciting brand of football that won him two top-flight titles at Sporting Lisbon - the feeling was that United had landed a coup, a manager capable of restoring success back to Old Trafford.

It was also a huge acid test for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with Amorim the first manager to be appointed after INEOS team took control of the club's sporting development with the promise of leading them into a new era.

But what transpired was a tale of sorry tactics boards in the rain, spats with club legends, in-fighting with players, quotes that sent shockwaves through the fanbase... and that formation.

So as Amorim departs Old Trafford after just 14 months and with one of the worst records in the club's history, Daily Mail Sport looks at seven major low points in the Portuguese's reign.

'WE ARE THE WORST TEAM IN MAN UNITED HISTORY'

It was hardly a way to inspire a dressing room. But Amorim was never one for pulling his punches.

'We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United,' he admitted just two months after taking the job.

United had fallen to a 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford at the hands of Brighton in January 2025, cementing their worst home record in the league in 131 years.

'I am saying that because we have to acknowledge that and to change it. Here you go: your headlines,' he continued. 'It's unacceptable to lose so many games. For any Premier League club, so imagine Manchester United?

'The opponents are better than us in many details. I am just here to help my players, but we need to understand we are breaking all the bad records.'

This also signaled the start of criticism around his 3-4-2-1 formation - a hill he would ultimately die on.

But Amorim, as he did in the end, vowed: 'I knew it was going to be hard to put a completely new idea in the moment, but when you lose games it becomes really hard.

'So that's why I'm telling you we are going to suffer because I will continue to do the same. I am not going to change, no matter what.'

THAT NIGHT IN BILBAO

For the so-called worst team in Man United's history, the opportunity for a Europa League trophy was still just 90 minutes away.

And what better way than do clinch it than beating Spurs? 'Lads, it's Tottenham,' as Sir Alex used to say.

Not only was it 'just Tottenham' as the United-psyche goes, this was Ange Postecoglou's porous Spurs. An injury-ravaged side that, history tells us, do not make a habit of winning trophies.

United needed this. Amorim had inherited a squad sitting 13th in the Premier League, but things had spiraled and fast. They were 16th. Spurs were 17th. This was winner takes all.

And United lost it.

Brennan Johnson's first-half goal was the nail in the coffin, but the meek attempt to rescue the tie in Bilbao was the most damning of all. Cross after cross into the box. Harry Maguire the de-facto striker. This was not the United way.

No trophy. A 15th-place league finish. And a summer ahead that demanded heavy spending.

In theory, this was something to build upon. The foundations were set for Amorim's first full crack at the job.

THE TACTICS BOARD IN GRIMSBY

It may stand as the defining image of Amorim's United tenure.

Rain-soaked on the touchline, the Portuguese coach arrived at Blundell Park at the start of the 2025-26 campaign in the dim seaside town of Grimsby armed with £220million of attacking firepower.

This was supposed to be the night major summer signings Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo flexed their muscles and announced themselves as the club's new stars. But these days, United rarely follow the script.

Instead, they found themselves 2-0 down to a League Two side inside half an hour - staring down the barrel of another unwanted record. United had never previously lost to fourth-tier opposition.

Cut to Amorim. There he was, stage left, frantically working his tactics board in the dugout, searching for answers to the problems posed by players who earn less in a year than what their players earn in a week.

United hauled themselves level with two unanswered goals. But still, it was not enough. Penalties beckoned. And the tactics board could not save them from humiliation.

United crashed out of the EFL Cup after a marathon shootout, losing 12-11.

Amorim, of course, apologised to the travelling fans afterwards, but it was his admission that was the most damning. 'I think the best team won, the only team that was on the pitch,' he said.

DEFUSING THE BOMB SQUAD

Amorim's straight-talking was not only reserved for the media. His players felt it too.

None more so than Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia - the so-called United 'bomb squad'.

Rashford was effectively shown the door within weeks of Amorim's arrival. The Portuguese coach made up his mind on the academy graduate almost immediately, and at one point suggested he would rather select his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach than the forward.

'You can see on the bench we miss a bit of pace,' Amorim said. 'But I would put [Jorge Vital] before a player who doesn't give the maximum every day.'

Rashford's exile began with a loan move to Aston Villa, followed by another temporary exit to Barcelona. Antony, too, was shipped off to Spain and has since found a new lease of life with Real Betis.

Sancho, United's long-coveted £73 million signing, followed suit with a loan to Chelsea in January and then to Villa Park last summer. Garnacho was told to 'pray' he found a new club after publicly complaining about his lack of minutes in the Europa League final and moved to Stamford Bridge for £40million.

Malacia remains at Old Trafford, the only member of the bomb squad yet to be defused. But Amorim spent much of his short reign locked in open warfare with these players - several of whom publicly questioned his methods.

Garnacho has already liked a post celebrating Amorim's departure. Whether the others follow suit - or choose to hold their peace - remains to be seen.

GHOSTS OF OLD TRAFFORD

United are, undoubtedly, one of the most difficult clubs in world football to manage. The pressure is relentless, the scrutiny unprecedented and the punditry suffocating.

The latter was a lesson Amorim learned quickly.

Much of the noise around English football is made up of former United players, and the Portuguese coach appeared acutely aware of such.

He name-checked ex-captain Gary Neville - most notably in his final press conference (more on that later) - and frequently referenced media talking points, not least the debate around his formation (more on that coming, too).

And some of the Old Trafford legends were unforgiving in their verdicts.

Paul Scholes, for one, publicly advised Kobbie Mainoo to leave the club amid growing concern over the 20-year-old's lack of game time under Amorim, and accused the manager of talking 'bull****'.

He doubled down in December and : 'I don't think the manager gets this club, full stop. I just don't think he's the right man.' His son, Arron, yesterday added to the fire and called for Amorim to 'f*** off'. He got his wish.

Amorim was clearly aware of such criticism - perhaps too aware. And he let it show.

THAT FORMATION

By the end, Amorim looked tired.  But the fire within the former United boss was once so strong that he said 'not even the Pope' could make him change his style of play.

His 3-4-2-1 at times looked clunky, laboured and uncomfortable for many of the United players. Square pegs in round holes was often the metaphor invoked.

Still, he persisted. And persisted. Until he didn't.

On Boxing Day, just two weeks before his departure, Amorim finally abandoned his preferred setup in favor of a 4-2-3-1 against Newcastle at Old Trafford. United won and played well.

The 1-0 victory drew praise for the performance but prompting a simple question: why not sooner?

'When you talk about changing the system all the time, I cannot change because the players will understand that I'm changing because of you (the media) – and I think that is the end for the manager,' said Amorim.

'So when we are playing well in our system, that is the moment to change if it's the better thing to win the next game. I'm just trying to improve. In all the mistakes that I did last season, I am trying to learn a little bit a thing to change things.'

Amorim returned to his 3-4-2-1 formation for his final two games in charge, and drew both 1-1 against a dismal Wolves side at Old Trafford, and away to Leeds - granted, a pretty good result these days.

'I AM THE MANAGER, NOT HEAD COACH'

Like all great endings, first came the speech.

'I came here to be the manager of Manchester United… not to be the coach of Manchester United. That is clear,' Amorim exploded after United's 1-1 draw with Leeds on Sunday.

By this point, murmurs of discontent had grown impossible to ignore, and Amorim's demeanor spoke for itself. He had hinted at frustration just a week ago, suggesting there was no dialogue with the club hierarchy about strengthening the squad in January.

Pressure had also been mounting over his insistence on the 3-4-2-1 system, with the draw at Leeds ultimately the crescendo.

'I just want to say that I am going to be the MANAGER of this team, not just the coach and I was really clear on that,' he added.

'And that is going to finish in 18 months and then everyone is going to move on. That was the deal, that is my job… not to be a coach. If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles, the criticism, everything, we need to change the club. I just want to say that.

'I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach. In every department, the scouting department, the sporting director needs to do his job, and I will do mine for 18 months and then we move on.'

Alas, it would not last 18 months. In actual fact, it was just over 18 hours later that Amorim was gone.