A Tale of Two Tenures: Amorim’s United Struggles vs. Sporting’s Post-Departure Resilience in 2024-2025

The 2024-2025 football season offered a compelling study in contrasts, centred on the managerial journey of Ruben Amorim. His mid-season move from a dominant Sporting CP to a struggling Manchester United set the stage for two starkly different narratives. At Manchester United, Amorim’s tenure was marked by historic lows, with the club at 16th in the Premier League with one match to go and losing the UEFA Europa League final, reflecting tactical mismatches and deeper cultural issues. Conversely, after an initial stumble following Amorim’s departure, Sporting CP showcased remarkable resilience under Rui Borges, clinching the Liga Portugal title through tactical pragmatism, standout performances, and a robust club culture.

This analysis compares the performances of Manchester United and Sporting CP during the 2024-2025 season, exploring the impact of Amorim’s departure and arrival. It examines performance metrics, tactical approaches, squad dynamics, and club culture to uncover insights into modern football management. The divergent outcomes highlight the critical importance of aligning a manager’s vision with squad capabilities, the role of club identity in navigating transitions, and the challenges of implementing complex systems in new environments. This season serves as a case study on the multifaceted nature of success in elite football.

A Mid-Season Shift and Diverging Destinies

On November 1, 2024, Manchester United announced Ruben Amorim as their new head coach, replacing Erik ten Hag after triggering an €11 million release clause from Sporting CP. At the time, Sporting were riding an 11-match winning streak in Liga Portugal, a testament to Amorim’s tactical prowess. His reputation as a top young coach fuelled optimism at Old Trafford, where United sat 14th in the Premier League, desperate for a clear identity.

For Sporting CP, Amorim’s departure was a significant challenge. Having secured two Primeira Liga titles (2020-21 and 2023-24), he had built a cohesive system over five years. His exit tested Sporting’s ability to maintain their title challenge. This mid-season shift highlighted the interplay between managerial systems and club contexts, with Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation thriving at Sporting but facing scrutiny at United due to squad mismatches and intense Premier League pressures.

Manchester United Under Amorim: A Season of Disappointment

Performance Review: Historic Lows

Manchester United’s 2024-2025 season under Amorim was one of their bleakest. The team finished 16th in the Premier League with 39 points, their lowest-ever total, surpassing the previous record of 58 points in 2021-2022. In 25 league matches under Amorim, they secured only 24 points, with a 24% win rate (6 wins, 6 draws, 13 losses), the lowest for any permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s era.

Defensively, United conceded 41 goals in those 25 matches and failed to score in 14 games, highlighting offensive struggles. They suffered 17 league defeats, including a record nine at Old Trafford, and conceded the first goal in 12 home matches. Despite reaching the UEFA Europa League final, a 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao denied them silverware and Champions League qualification. Domestic cup runs ended early, with exits in the FA Cup fifth round and EFL Cup quarter-finals.

Tactical Analysis: The Unyielding 3-4-3

Amorim’s commitment to his 3-4-3 formation, often a 3-4-2-1, was a central factor in United’s struggles. Successful at Sporting, the system required specialized roles that United’s squad couldn’t fulfil. Amorim’s refusal to adapt, famously stating, “I will not change,” drew criticism for lacking pragmatism.

Key issues included:

Wingbacks: The Premier League’s intensity demands versatile wingbacks, but players like Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu were better suited as traditional full-backs, limiting attacking output and exposing defensive flanks.
Midfield Pivots: The double pivot was often exposed, with Casemiro struggling to meet the system’s demands for dynamic pressing and dribbling.
Forwards: The high press lacked coordination, with Rasmus Højlund criticized for ineffective pressing, and Alejandro Garnacho’s positioning clashed with teammates.
Centre-Backs: While Lisandro Martínez fit the ball-playing role, pairings like Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire lacked mobility, exacerbating defensive issues.

United’s play lacked structure, relying on transitions rather than controlled build-up, and struggled against compact defences. This contrasted sharply with Sporting’s fluid 3-4-3, which leveraged players like Gonçalo Inácio for cohesive play.

Beyond Tactics: Compounding Factors

Amorim pointed to cultural issues, stating, “Sometimes it is not about the way we play tactically, it is the way we face competition and suffer”. Reports of player discontent with the 3-4-3 suggested a lack of buy-in. Injuries to Luke Shaw and Mason Mount, combined with minimal January signings (only Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven), limited options. High-profile loan exits, including Marcus Rashford, further strained the squad.

Despite these challenges, Amorim remained confident, stating post-Europa League final, “I’m confident that I’m still the guy… I have more tools to do my job”. The club backed him, planning to give him the summer transfer window to reshape the squad, though some board members expressed concerns about his ability to handle United’s pressures.

Sporting CP Post-Amorim: Navigating Change and Achieving Success

Managerial Carousel and Stabilization

Amorim’s departure on November 1, 2024, left Sporting atop Liga Portugal with a perfect record. Joao Pereira, promoted from the reserves, struggled, winning only three of eight matches and overseeing consecutive Champions League losses. Sacked on December 26, 2024, he was replaced by Rui Borges, who joined from Vitoria de Guimaraes for €4.1 million.

Borges’ pragmatic approach, reverting to Amorim’s 3-4-3 after a failed 4-4-2 experiment, restored stability. His man-management rebuilt player confidence, as noted by Daniel Braganca: “Borges brought calm, serenity and confidence”.

Performance Review: Resilience Rewarded

Sporting clinched the Liga Portugal title with 82 points, two ahead of Benfica, finishing with 25 wins, 7 draws, and 2 losses, scoring 88 goals and conceding 27. They reached the Taça de Portugal final and were Taça da Liga runners-up, losing to Benfica on penalties. In the Champions League, they exited in the play-off round against Borussia Dortmund (3-0 aggregate).

Under Pereira and Borges, Sporting’s combined record across 36 matches was 20 wins, 9 draws, and 7 losses (55.6% win rate), a decline from Amorim’s 88.9% but sufficient for domestic success.

Key Pillars of Success

Sporting’s triumph rested on:

Star Performances: Viktor Gyökeres scored 39 league goals, Morten Hjulmand led the midfield, and Pedro Gonçalves was pivotal post-injury.
Strategic Signings: Rui Silva (goalkeeper) and Zeno Debast (versatile defender) bolstered the squad.
Youth Integration: Academy talents like Geovany Quenda and João Simões filled gaps during injuries, reflecting Sporting’s “ADN Sporting” philosophy.
Resilience: The squad overcame Amorim’s exit and injuries, with Borges’ leadership restoring belief.

Comparative Analysis: Two Clubs, One System, Contrasting Outcomes

Performance Metrics

Amorim’s 88.9%-win rate at Sporting (16 wins in 18 matches) dwarfed his 39% at United (24% in the Premier League). Sporting’s post-Amorim win rate of 55.6% under Pereira and Borges outperformed United’s, despite initial struggles.

Tactical Efficacy

Amorim’s 3-4-3 thrived at Sporting due to tailored players and years of development. At United, the same system faltered, exposing squad deficiencies. Borges’ return to the 3-4-3 at Sporting leveraged player familiarity, while United’s struggles highlighted the need for specialists.

Squad Dynamics and Club Culture

Sporting’s resilience stemmed from a strong club identity and youth pipeline, allowing them to recover from Amorim’s exit. United’s fragmented squad and reported discontent hindered adaptation, with Amorim noting cultural issues.

Conclusion: Lessons from a Season of Contrasts

The 2024-2025 season underscored the complexities of football management. Manchester United’s struggles under Amorim highlighted the challenges of implementing a complex system mid-season in a high-pressure league with an ill-suited squad. Sporting CP’s title win, despite initial turmoil, demonstrated the power of a robust club culture and pragmatic leadership.

Amorim’s legacy at Sporting proved enduring, with his system enabling success under Borges. At United, his tenure revealed the need for squad alignment and cultural change. The season offers key lessons: managerial success hinges on squad suitability, tactical flexibility, and a supportive club environment. As both clubs move forward, these insights will shape their futures.

For United, the squad and the 'culture' have to change because Amorim will not.