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Record compared to other Utd bosses
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Manchester United found themselves extremely unlucky to be the losing team on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Arsenal came to Old Trafford and left with a 1-0 victory, but had to hold on, and can be thankful to goalkeeper and man-of-the-match David Raya for keeping the Red Devils at bay. There were vast improvements from Ruben Amorim's team compared to last season, with new signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo a constant threat. But nevertheless, it was yet another defeat for United, and it means that their Portuguese boss is now the holder of an unwanted and pretty dreadful record.
Amorim has now lost as many as 15 of his first 28 Premier League games in charge, meaning he is the fastest a manager to reach 15 defeats in the competition, without taking charge of a newly promoted team in that period, since 2010. For the Portuguese boss to hold this mantle whilst managing a club the size and calibre of Man Utd is truly astonishing, and when we see the managers behind him on this particular list in the last 15 years, it highlights just how bad things have been at Old Trafford. We will also take a look at how Amorim's Premier League defeats compare to the other Man United managers in the Premier League era.
Managers with fewest games to 15 Premier League defeats since 2010
Behind Amorim's 15 losses in just 28 games is former Swansea boss Paul Clement. Whilst in charge in south Wales, Clement took just 29 matches to reach 15 defeats. Third goes to Steve Kean, who was hounded out of Blackburn shortly after reaching 15 losses in 30 games at Ewood Park back in 2012. Tony Pulis takes fourth, after it took him 31 matches to hit 15 defeats in his first Premier League job at Stoke. Steven Gerrard completes the top five after his tough time at Villa Park saw the Englishman also reach 15 losses after just 31 games.
Eddie Howe is sixth on the list, having managed 32 Premier League games before hitting 15 losses, and he is followed by former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch - the American also took 32 games to lose 15 times. One of few Watford bosses to be in charge long enough to lose 15 games, Walter Mazzarri takes eighth, having taken 33 games. Southampton's Ralph Hasenhüttl also reached 15 losses in 33 games at St Marys. Steve Clarke completes the top, having taken 35 Premier League matches to reach 15 losses in the competition, but how does Amorim's poor record compare to his Man United predecessors?
How long did it take other Man United managers to reach 15 PL losses?
Amorim's record compared to other Manchester United managers in the Premier League era is not good, but it should be remembered that he inherited a club in a mess, partly due to some of the work of those who stood in the dugout before him. United's last boss in Erik ten Hag took 53 games to reach 15 Premier League losses, whilst every other manager took at least over double Amorim's 28 matches in charge.
Ole Gunnar Solakjær took 65 games to hit 15 Premier League losses, whilst José Mourinho took 87 games - a run which stretched over three seasons. Louis van Gaal took 66 games, or in other words, two full seasons, to hit 15 league defeats, whilst David Moyes didn't even last long enough to post a number. He was sacked after losing 11 of his 34 games in charge at Old Trafford. United legend Sir Alex Ferguson took 113 Premier League games to hit 15 losses - that's over four times as many games as Amorim. There were definitely huge improvements in Man Utd's performance against Arsenal, but if Amorim is to hit another 15 losses as quickly as the first lot, it's hard to see him lasting in the dugout.
