He needs three years: Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe backs Ruben Amorim despite poor start
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has thrown his full support behind manager Ruben Amorim and wants him to have three years at the club.
New Delhi: Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has shown his full support for head coach Ruben Amorim and wants him to lead the club for three years.
The Portuguese manager has been under pressure after finishing 15th during the 2024/25 Premier League season and not having a great start to the new season. In their seven League fixtures, the Red Devils have only managed to win just 3, and also suffered an embarrassing defeat on penalties against Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup.
Although sources close to Ratcliffe had suggested that Amorim was not in any immediate danger, a fresh round of reports before Manchester United’s 2-0 victory over Sunderland last weekend said that Amorim was at risk of losing his job if the club had failed to win.
In an interview on The Times' The Business podcast, Ratcliffe said that Amorim will be given an extended amount of time to prove his worth at Old Trafford.
"He has not had the best of seasons. Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years. That's where I would be," Ratcliffe said.
The Man United co-owner further added that the media want overnight success, and he doesn't understand that. He further added that they think it's a light switch
" You know, you flick a switch and it's all going to be roses tomorrow. You can't run a club like Manchester United on knee-jerk reactions to some journalist who goes off on one every week," he added.
Ratcliffe owns just under 30% of Manchester United, but controls all the major football decisions, even though the Glazer family retain a majority stake in the club.
The Ineos owner said that Glazers are passionate about the club, and when asked if they might order him to sack Amorim, he said that's not going to happen.
'Manchester United will become the most profitable football club in the world'
Last month, the club announced record revenues in their latest annual accounts despite missing out on the European football and suffering its worst-ever finish in the Premier League 2024-25 season.
But despite the revenue of 666.5 million pounds ($910 million), the 20-time English champion still reported losses of 33 million pounds ($45 million).
Ratcliffe said that if you look at the club's results for last year, they have the highest revenues ever, and those numbers will get better.
"Manchester United will become the most profitable football club in the world, in my view, and from that will stem, I hope, a long-term, sustainable, high level of football," he added.
After the victory against Sunderland, Manchester United will take on Liverpool at Anfield on October 19.