Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has completed one year at Old Trafford.
It has been a turbulent but fascinating 12 months for the Portuguese coach, who spent much of that period battling speculation about his future.
He inherited a fragile squad from Erik ten Hag, and the drastic shift in playing philosophy only made the early months even more challenging.
Yet despite the rocky start, momentum is finally beginning to build, and Amorim now has every reason to believe an upward trajectory awaits.
Here are the five biggest talking points from his first year in charge.
1) No favouritism of players
The 40-year-old made it clear that reputations mean nothing and performances mean everything.
Ten Hag was guilty of giving chances to Antony ahead of the likes of Amad Diallo. The Brazilian played 96 times over a spell of more than two years and scored only 12 goals.
Diallo dazzled during his loan spell at Sunderland, yet Ten Hag continued to back Antony in hope rather than merit.
Amorim has not shown this blind backing towards players who are not good enough for the club.
Casemiro found himself effectively the fifth-choice midfielder when Amorim first arrived at Old Trafford.
The veteran ace demonstrated an excellent work ethic in training sessions, impressing the manager.
Amorim rewarded him by bringing him back into the starting XI, a decision that has paid off handsomely in 2025.
This was a clear signal to fringe players that they will get their chances if they put in the effort in training and follow the manager’s demands.
2) Changing dressing room culture
Amorim worked tirelessly to reshape the atmosphere behind the scenes and restore unity.
Players who prioritised themselves over the team are no longer part of the environment he is creating.
Alejandro Garnacho, for all his breathtaking ability and superstar potential, showed immaturity after being benched for a few matches.
He lost his head and publicly fired shots at the manager after the UEFA Europa League final defeat.
Marcus Rashford became the poster boy for United after coming through the ranks. However, his off-the-ball work rate was not good enough for Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.
Although Rashford could have offered valuable quality, the manager made a decisive call by excluding him from 11 matchday squads before sanctioning a loan move.
3) Getting recruitment right
The summer of 2025 showcased a far more targeted and intelligent transfer strategy.
United were desperately short of quality in the final third, so INEOS acted decisively by securing Matheus Cunha and relentlessly pursuing Bryan Mbeumo.
Amorim wanted attackers with Premier League pedigree, and the club backed him without hesitation.
Replacing Rasmus Hojlund with Benjamin Sesko was also a clear signal to the squad that they would not get a third year at the club if they failed to prove their worth.
4) Handling of media
Amorim has been a tremendous articulator of his ideas for both the team and the club. He has been very honest, and at times too honest.
After losing 3–1 to Brighton in January, he famously declared his side “the worst team in the club’s history.”
It was just one of many examples that highlighted how emotionally invested he is in the project. It also proved that the Portuguese coach absolutely cares about what is happening on the pitch.
One must compare his transparency to Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who spent weeks blaming long balls and a lack of pre-season rather than admitting tactical shortcomings in recent weeks.
5) More faith is required in the Academy
This is one major area United fans would want Amorim to focus on in the next six months.
During his time at Sporting CP, he trusted the club’s academy and unearthed young gems such as Geovany Quenda.
Chido Obi, Harry Amass and Tyler Fredricson made their senior debuts under his guidance at Old Trafford last term.
Obi has yet to return to a senior matchday squad this campaign, and Amass was sent on loan for regular minutes.
Fredricson featured against Grimsby Town but has since been moved back to the Under-21s.
The current academy crop is bursting with talent, boasting names like Jack Fletcher, Jim Thwaites, Bendito Mantato, Sekou Kone and Shea Lacey.
The FA Cup presents the perfect platform for Amorim to allow at least a couple of these prodigies to shine.