Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has claimed that Ruben Amorim’s charisma and appearance are the only reasons he has not been sacked as Manchester United manager, despite a string of disappointing results.
Amorim, who took over at Old Trafford in November 2024, has endured a difficult start to life in England. Since his appointment, the Portuguese coach has managed just 17 wins in 46 games, giving him a win ratio of only 36.9 per cent. United have also suffered 17 defeats under his watch, including losses in the Europa League final and an embarrassing Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town.
Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, Carragher argued that Amorim is fortunate to still be in the job.
“If he wasn’t so charismatic in press conferences and wasn’t such a good-looking man, he might have lost his job a lot earlier,” Carragher said. “When you look at the results, they are horrendous. He talks well, but because he’s not winning, people are thinking, ‘Oh, just stop speaking.’ If he were winning, we’d all say he’s a great character. The truth is, there are a lot of better managers in the Premier League right now.”
Carragher also questioned Amorim’s place among Europe’s top coaches, noting that while he enjoyed major success with Sporting Lisbon including breaking Benfica and Porto’s dominance to win league titles, he is still inexperienced compared to rivals such as Unai Emery and Eddie Howe.
United’s struggles have intensified speculation about his future, especially with calls for Jose Mourinho to return to English football. Despite the pressure, the club’s new part-owners, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS group, have so far kept faith in Amorim.
Manchester United finished 15th last season, and after picking up just four points so far this campaign, they currently sit ninth in the Premier League table. Their upcoming fixtures after the international break offer no respite, with a Manchester derby against City followed by a tough home clash against Chelsea
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