Ruben Amorim wants to replicate Sir Alex Ferguson's longevity at Manchester United by leading the club for at least two decades. So he will have been delighted to hear his boss singing from the same hymn sheet back in March when Sir Jim Ratcliffe offered strong public backing.
Amorim would be fortunate to break the typical two-year lifespan of United managers since Ferguson's era of dominance if results don't improve this season. He has overseen the same number of defeats as victories across his 42 matches in charge (17). A storm certainly did hit, as he warned.
United have shown promising signs of improvement during pre-season, in terms of sharpness and cohesiveness on the pitch and harmony off it.
There is a sense of relief to leave a disastrous 2024/25 campaign in the rear-view mirror after finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
But excitement and optimism are also exuding from Amorim and his players as they enter what feels like the true start to his reign.
The Portuguese head coach is well aware that now is the time to start providing results, but he has laid out his dream of helming an empire at Old Trafford.
"I want to stay 20 [years]. That is my goal, and I truly believe in that. Something will happen," Amorim explained in Chicago.
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"In some moments, I will be lucky. I had a lot of luck during my career as a manager, and my idea is to stay for many years. Results will dictate that.
"And I know that all the credit I had when I arrived… last year was used on that. But I'm ready to start fresh."
Amorim has time on his side at the age of 40, although he joked that he felt like he was turning 50 on his birthday in January.
And Ratcliffe seemingly shares the ambition of a long-term period in the dugout, based on his overwhelming backing during the struggles of last term.
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In March, the United part-owner said: "If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job, to be honest.
"I think Ruben is an outstanding young manager. I really do. He's an excellent manager and I think he will be there for a long time."
Ratcliffe added: "He is, as most great coaches are, an emotional character. Ruben is not perfect but I am a great supporter of Ruben."
Amorim has backing, but it's not blind. Results are a must, and United start their Premier League campaign by facing Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in their first five matches.