Ruben Amorim once received a message from Mourinho before being dismissed

Before officially being relieved from his managerial position at Manchester United, Ruben Amorim received a subtle warning from Jose Mourinho.

That message was neither loud nor harsh, but it clearly reflected the immense pressure awaiting any coach stepping into Old Trafford.

Ruben Amorim was appointed as Manchester United’s head coach in November 2024, at a time when the club was seeking a complete rebuild. At 41 years old, the Portuguese strategist was regarded as one of Europe’s brightest young minds following his highly successful stint with Sporting CP. Over nearly four years leading the Portuguese side, Amorim won five major and minor trophies, including two Primeira Liga titles, restoring Sporting’s status as top contenders.

It was precisely this impressive record that made Manchester United’s leadership place great trust in Amorim. However, the environment at Old Trafford was entirely different. The pressure to deliver results, along with fans’ and media’s expectations, meant every mistake was scrutinized intensely.

In his first season, Manchester United under Amorim reached the Europa League final, but in the Premier League, the team ranked only 15th with an average of 1 point per game during the early part of his tenure. Despite some signs of improvement in the following season, the overall performance still fell short of the club’s demands. After a draw with Leeds in January, Amorim was officially sacked, ending a turbulent period of just over a year.

Notably, before his first match as Manchester United’s head coach,Amorim received a message from Jose Mourinho. The two have known each other since 2018, when Amorim interned under Mourinho at Manchester United. Six years later, upon returning to Old Trafford as head coach, Amorim revealed: “He sent me a message saying this is a fantastic club, a great team with wonderful people – and that was absolutely true.”

The reality shows that warning was well-founded. Manchester United is undergoing a comprehensive restructuring, from management to the squad. Constant changes force any coach to face challenges in tactical stability and dressing room harmony. Amorim acknowledged the club is “building a new building,” but in top-level football, time is a luxury.

Ruben Amorim’s story once again highlights that the managerial seat at Manchester United has never been easy to hold. Talent, philosophy, and ambition are not enough without immediate results. Mourinho’s message, in retrospect, seemed like a forecast of the turbulent journey his compatriot would face at the Theatre of Dreams.