Former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen has delivered a clear verdict on the immediate future of the recently dismissed Red Devils coach, Ruben Amorim. According to Meulensteen, the Portuguese manager has no plans to return to the Premier League following his abrupt exit from Old Trafford last week.
Amorim's Disappointing Spell in England
Ruben Amorim was sacked by Manchester United after a tenure widely regarded as disappointing. His time in England failed to meet the high expectations at the club, leading to his departure. Speaking in an interview with Casinostugan, Meulensteen provided insight into the fallout from Amorim's exit and his potential next steps.
The former United coach suggested that Amorim's record during his stint in the Premier League would deter other English clubs from making a quick move for him. "It depends what he’s looking for," Meulensteen stated. "I doubt there would be teams in the Premier League quick to jump at the opportunity to bring him in because of his record in the Premier League."
A Return to Portugal on the Cards
Instead of another challenging role in England, Meulensteen believes Amorim's future is more likely to be back in his home country. The coach had significant success in Portugal before his move to Manchester, which makes a return a logical step.
"Back in Portugal? Yes," Meulensteen affirmed. "I think there’s obviously clubs that would look at him because he’s won the league there and he’s better suited to it." This highlights a common trend where a manager's success in one league does not always guarantee similar results in a more competitive environment like the Premier League.
The Challenge of Sustaining Success
Meulensteen used a recent high-profile example to illustrate the difficulty of maintaining top-level performance across different clubs and leagues. He pointed to the case of Xabi Alonso, who achieved remarkable success with Bayer Leverkusen.
"Look at Xabi Alonso. Look at what he did at Bayer Leverkusen," Meulensteen said. "He goes to Real Madrid, everybody thought that it was a marriage made in heaven, and seven months on he’s gone." However, he noted that Alonso's reputation remains largely untarnished because of his historic achievement in Germany, a luxury Amorim does not have after his underwhelming period at United.
The commentary from Meulensteen, shared via Linda Ikeji's platform on 16/01/2026 at 10:44 AM, paints a clear picture. For now, Ruben Amorim's path seems to lead away from the Premier League and back to a familiar setting where his proven track record can reignite his managerial career.
