Sir Jim Ratcliffe Defends Ruben Amorim Amidst Comparisons to Mikel Arteta

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United's minority owner, has expressed his support for Ruben Amorim, the club's head coach, even as critics draw parallels between his performance and that of Mikel Arteta during his early days at Arsenal. Ratcliffe emphasizes the importance of giving Amorim three years to demonstrate his coaching prowess, citing Arteta's eventual success as a reason for patience.

By Chris Posiano

October 10, 2025 at 2:31 AM

8,644 views

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the influential minority owner of Manchester United, has defended Ruben Amorim, the club's beleaguered head coach, in the face of growing scrutiny and comparisons to Mikel Arteta's early struggles at Arsenal. Ratcliffe, who has been a vocal advocate for Amorim, insists that patience is key, as Arteta eventually turned Arsenal into a consistent Premier League title contender.

Ratcliffe's comments come amid ongoing debates about Amorim's performance in his first 50 games in charge of Manchester United. While Arteta's record during his initial period at Arsenal was far from flawless, it was significantly better than Amorim's. Arteta secured 27 wins from his first 50 games, compared to Amorim's 19 victories. The Portuguese coach's Manchester United side has also conceded nearly 60% more goals than Arteta's Arsenal team, with 76 goals conceded to Arteta's 47.

Despite these disparities, Ratcliffe remains unwavering in his support for Amorim, stating that football success is measured over three years. He believes that Amorim has the potential to follow Arteta's path to long-term success, even if the current season is proving challenging. Ratcliffe's remarks have drawn both praise and criticism, with some fans expressing frustration over Amorim's performance, while others remain hopeful that he can turn the tide for Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Arsenal fans continue to revel in the club's recent success under Arteta, who has transformed the team into a formidable force in the Premier League. Arteta's progress serves as a reminder of the importance of patience and long-term planning in football management, a lesson that Ratcliffe appears to be heeding as he stands by Amorim.