INEOS could replace Amorim with “one of the best coaches”, he’d be Man Utd’s new Ole – opinion

As Ruben Amorim can confirm, the current Manchester United manager is facing a challenging period, having accumulated only 31 points from 31 Premier League matches in his tenure.

Whether this provides him with any solace or not, it is important to recognize that being a former United manager is not particularly favorable either, as recent weeks have witnessed the departure of several prominent figures from their positions.

In fact, Jose Mourinho’s inability to guide Fenerbahce into the Champions League resulted in his replacement last month, with the charismatic coach now poised to return to his native country, potentially taking over from Bruno Lage at Benfica.

In another instance in Turkey, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s own struggles in Europe led to his dismissal from Besiktas during the same week, marking the Norwegian’s first coaching role since leaving Old Trafford, which lasted just over six months.

Perhaps the most severe case was Erik ten Hag’s termination at Bayer Leverkusen, which abruptly concluded a stint that lasted – as noted – merely two matches in charge of the Bundesliga team. Quite unfortunate.

All of these individuals endeavored, yet ultimately fell short, in their attempts to restore the Red Devils to prominence in both European and English football, with Amorim regrettably at risk of experiencing a similar fate.

Ranking every post-Ferguson manager at Man Utd

Throughout the entirety of United’s history, only three managers – Ernest Mangnall, Sir Matt Busby, and Sir Alex Ferguson – have succeeded in winning a league title while at the helm of the club. Among these distinguished figures, the legacy left by the latter continues to weigh heavily on those who follow in his footsteps.

David Moyes, often referred to as ‘The Chosen One’, was the first to attempt to fill this significant void. However, just nine months into his six-year contract, the struggling Scotsman was dismissed, despite United’s narrow defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final.

During his tenure at Old Trafford, the current Everton manager achieved 27 victories out of 51 matches, according to Transfermarkt. In comparison, Amorim has managed to secure only 18 wins from 47 matches in charge thus far.

Unsurprisingly, this pairing ranks low on the list, with the bottom position occupied by interim manager Ralf Rangnick. The German managed to win 11 out of 29 games, but this short-term appointment was ill-suited from the very beginning.

While his candidness in press conferences may have endeared him to some, the seasoned coach failed to alleviate the toxic atmosphere, arguably prioritizing his own reputation over the improvement of the situation both on and off the pitch.

Louis van Gaal, on the other hand, faced his own tumultuous and chaotic period. His poor recruitment strategy resulted in underwhelming performances from players such as Angel Di Maria, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Morgan Schneiderlin, among others. Nevertheless, the distinctive Dutchman did oversee the emergence of a young Marcus Rashford and secured an FA Cup victory in the process.

Continuing with the theme of Dutch managers, Ten Hag’s achievements are evident in his Carabao Cup and FA Cup successes, as well as his development of talents like Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho. However, few United managers have experienced such lows, with the 7-0 defeat at Anfield being a particularly glaring example.

Under Mourinho, the ‘poor man’s treble’ was claimed in 2016/17, while his 81-point tally the following season remains the best return post-Fergie. A winner undeniably, but Mourinho’s football was forgettable, with hardly a week passing without some kind of feud with Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw and the like.

The Portuguese coach had left a dark cloud over Manchester upon his exit in December 2018, but Solskjaer – perhaps the best of the bunch – swiftly lifted it, winning 14 of his first 17 games in charge while famously seeing off Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.

A trophy may have alluded him, but second and third-place finishes marked signs of progress, with the return of Cristiano Ronaldo likely to remain a ‘what if’ moment amid the eventual collapse of his reign.

The treble winner wasn’t without fault, and nor was his football, but he was a steady pair of hands who revived the atmosphere at the club. Could a change this summer do the same?

Why Man Utd could turn to the next Solskjaer

The concluding days of ‘Ole at the wheel’ were bleak, with losses at home against Liverpool and Manchester City indicating that the beloved coach’s time in the Old Trafford dugout was coming to an end.

Departing without any trophies, having painfully lost the 2021 Europa League final, Solskjaer’s tenure may be regarded as a failure by some; however, as previously mentioned, the progress made prior to Ronaldo’s arrival was evident.

It is possible that the Covid-era of football, along with the absence of fans, contributed to United’s ascent during those years, but the sense of optimism had certainly returned following the dark times under Jose. Even Solskjaer’s most ardent critic would have found it difficult not to feel emotional during his farewell interview with the club.

In another moment of crisis, there is a feeling that United once again require someone to stabilize the situation. Someone to foster a positive atmosphere behind the scenes.

If recent reports are accurate, one individual who might be poised to take on that role, should Amorim leave, is Sir Gareth Southgate, with the former England manager yet to return to the sidelines after departing from the Three Lions last summer.

Naturally, while Solskjaer’s return was celebrated by enthusiastic supporters six years ago, there would be undeniable

That summary of his time at the helm doesn’t tell the full story, however. Like Solskjaer, the ex-England international revived the spirit and atmosphere at a time when the national team was broken, following the Iceland debacle and Sam Allardyce’s brief tenure.

Described by Jude Bellingham as “one of the best coaches in the history of the national team but also an unbelievable human being”, Southgate is credited for England’s recent revival and for raising the level – a point notably made by Marcus Rashford:

“Maybe before it was a bit of an issue in terms of quality of training, and people’s dedication to training, but since Gareth has been manager it’s been intense. Everyone is ready to step in when needed.”

A composed figure and a leader on the sidelines, it is hard to envision Southgate retreating in the United dugout. As Neville has stated, “one thing Gareth would do is eliminate the nonsense in that dressing room”.

Similar to Solskjaer’s tenure at United, the unemployed coach had players eager to represent him at the international level. While the style of play may not have been exhilarating, it proved to be effective and efficient.

INEOS has taken a chance on Amorim, but thus far, that gamble has not yielded positive results. A person to stabilize the situation – akin to Solskjaer not long ago – might be precisely what is required.

Who can say, in a manner reminiscent of the Norwegian, Southgate could indeed astonish a few.