it should be noted that they are not actually his team.
Ruben Amorim boldly described his Manchester United side as “maybe, the worst-ever” in the club’s history.
His comments came as his group of underachievers suffered a shambolic 3-1 loss to Brighton, their sixth home league defeat in 12 in the 2024/25 season.
United are 13th in the Premier League but Amorim’s comments caused a mixed reaction.
Chris Sutton said it was “a message to everyone”.
Meanwhile, ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said:
“You don’t speak like that as a Manchester United manager… when you’re in a very poor situation, you don’t pour petrol on the flames.”
Amorim later clarified his comments: “I was talking more for myself than from my players because you have to find out a coach that starts a job and loses seven games in the first 10.
“So it’s more for me, I was talking more about me than the players.”
Although Amorim regretted his comments, it was a bold one nevertheless.
But is his side really the worst in the club’s history?
We look at the six worst teams in Manchester United’s history.
Sir Alex Ferguson (1989)
Starting 11: Leighton, Martin, Pallister, Bruce, Beardsmore, Robson, Ince, Phelan, Sharpe, McClair, Wallace
Although Sir Alex Ferguson is regarded as Manchester United’s greatest manager, his first few years at the club were difficult.
In December 1989, his side lost at home to Crystal Palace.
Just over 33,000 United fans turned up to Old Trafford that day, having regularly watched dismal performances from their team.
But during the eventual 2-1 loss to The Eagles, fans reckoned it was one of the worst moments of any United side.
One fan named Pete Molyneux summed up the fans’ feelings of frustration and disappointment by unveiling a banner that carried the blunt message:
“Three years of excuses and it’s still c**p. Tara Fergie.”
But his and other fans’ sentiments ended up being completely wrong as Sir Alex would go on to lead the greatest era in the club’s history, winning 38 trophies.
Ruben Amorim (2025)
Starting 11: Onana, De Ligt, Maguire, Yoro, Mazraoui, Mainoo, Ugarte, Dalot, Diallo, Fernandes, Zirkzee
Ruben Amorim may have had a point when he suggested that the side he sent out in the 3-1 loss to Brighton may be the worst in the club’s history.
However, it should be noted that they are not actually his team.
He signed none of the players who have consistently failed to follow his philosophy since his arrival from Sporting CP.
Had Amorim been consulted on signing any of United’s underperformers – Bruno Fernandes possibly an exception – he would have recommended anyone else.
Tommy Docherty (1974)
Starting 11: Stepney, Forsyth, Holton, Buchan, Houston, Morgan, Daly, Greenhoff, McCalliog, McIlroy, Macari
The team that fell to Denis Law’s infamous backheel and suffered relegation in April 1974 – just six years after conquering Europe – is often labelled one of United’s worst.
But even in the gloom of demotion, there were glimmers of a brighter future.
This wasn’t a team entirely without promise, it featured talents like Martin Buchan, Lou Macari, and Sammy McIlroy.
With a few clever additions—most notably Steve Coppell and Stuart Pearson—they laid the groundwork for a side that wouldn’t just bounce back but would do so in style.
Sometimes, even rock bottom plants the seeds of a revival.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (2021)
Starting 11: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw, McTominay, Matic; Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford, Ronaldo
The game that ultimately led to Solskjaer’s sacking featured a team that has a claim to be among the worst ever sent out by a Manchester United manager.
In the match against Watford in November 2021, Solskjaer’s front three was a formidable one on paper.
Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo should have been leading the side to a routine win.
But instead, none of them turned up and United were woeful, suffering an embarrassing 4-1 loss.
Old Trafford’s hero Solskjaer ended up suffering the consequences, a trend that other Manchester United managers have faced in the post-Fergie era.
Erik ten Hag (2023)
Starting 11: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martínez, Shaw, Casemiro, Fred, Antony, Fernandes, Rashford, Weghorst
Without a doubt, one of Manchester United’s most humiliating defeats was the 7-0 thrashing against Liverpool in March 2023.
Erik ten Hag had hinted he may finally have provided some upward momentum to the club by winning the League Cup in his first season.
But after that, the side and ten Hag never really recovered, despite a sizeable amount being spent on new players.
United are still counting the cost of his £600 million spending spree during his time as manager, including around £200m on new recruits last summer before he was sacked a few months into the 2024/25 season.
Erik ten Hag’s forwards that day at Anfield were Antony, Marcus Rashford and Wout Weghorst.
None of them threatened Liverpool’s defence that day and right now, Weghorst is playing for Ajax, Antony is on the verge of joining Real Betis on loan and Rashford’s United future is in the air.
Scott Duncan (1934)
Starting 11: Hall, Frame, Topping, Vose, McMillen, Manley, McGillivray, McDonald, Byrne, Chalmers, Stewart
No matter how poor his players may be, Ruben Amorim is wrong to label them the worst United side ever.
That dubious honour belongs to Scott Duncan’s hapless squad of 1933-34.
On the brink of relegation to the Third Division, their season was defined by humiliations like a 7-3 thrashing at Grimsby.
With doom seemingly inevitable, they somehow pulled off a miracle on the final day, beating Millwall 2-0 to claw themselves back from the edge of disaster.
Now that was a team flirting with infamy.
When his managerial reign ended in 1937, his win percentage was just 39.5%.
When it comes to Manchester United’s history, the performances of Ruben Amorim’s side would suggest that it is the worst side in the club’s history.
But the prestigious club has seen more humiliating moments.
From Scott Duncan’s near-relegation strugglers to Erik ten Hag’s 7-0 embarrassment against Liverpool, there have been plenty of dark moments in United’s history.
The number of losses during Amorim’s short reign is cause for concern but he himself said a “storm will come”, meaning he is braced for the tough times.
It is up to the players to adapt to his tactics and the board to give him the time to implement his philosophy in the hope that he can bring Manchester United back to its glory days.