In modern football, few things are guaranteed. Tactical trends evolve, club strategies rise and collapse, and even the wealthiest teams are adrift without exemplary leadership or mentality.
But every so often, specific figures emerge whose trajectories reveal a clear pattern, individuals who know how to win. Rúben Amorim, Matthijs de Ligt, and Ange Postecoglou fall firmly into that category.
At a time when Manchester United teeter on the edge of another wasted campaign, staring down the possibility of missing out on the UEFA Champions League for the second time in three seasons, the club could do worse than to draw inspiration from this duo of serial winners—each of whom represents a different aspect of footballing success: coaching revolution, player mentality, and the long-game transformation.
With four league games to play, the Red Devils are outside the top ten and struggling for rhythm. But if they are to mount a late surge, lift the Europa Cup, and re-enter Europe’s elite competition next season, they must channel the winning habits these individuals embody—starting now.
Rúben Amorim: A first-season phenomenon
Portuguese manager Rúben Amorim has become synonymous with instant success. His track record is so compelling that it reads like a blueprint for the type of manager United desperately needs. At Braga, in 2019-20, Amorim took over midway through the season and immediately delivered the Taça da Liga.
He was only 34 years old and had just 13 games of senior managerial experience. The manner of his impact was so electrifying that Sporting CP made him the third most expensive managerial signing in history to prise him away. They paid €10 million for a coach with fewer than 20 games under his belt. It was one of the best decisions the Lisbon giants ever made.
In his first full season at Sporting, Amorim led them to their first Primeira Liga title in 19 years. Not only did he end a long-standing drought, but he also did so with a team built on youth, tactical cohesion, and complete unity.
He installed a fluid 3-4-3 shape, introduced a new generation of talent including Gonçalo Inácio and Nuno Mendes, and created a structurally compact and emotionally relentless team. He has since followed up that success with consistent top-three finishes, another domestic cup win, and a reputation as one of Europe’s most progressive coaches.
Amorim represents the transformative leader who makes an immediate impact for a club like United, haunted by identity crises and tactical inconsistency. Amorim is a “first-season winner.” Everywhere he goes, he sets the tone instantly.
De Ligt: The first-season formula
Some players don’t just adapt when they move to a new club—they thrive. Matthijs de Ligt is the prototype. At every stop in his career, the Dutch centre-back has delivered silverware in his first season:
Ajax (2018–19): Eredivisie champion, Dutch Cup winner, Champions League semifinalist.
Juventus (2019–20): Serie A champion.
Bayern Munich (2022–23): Bundesliga champion.
It’s no coincidence. De Ligt brings a winning mentality wherever he goes. At 19, he captained Ajax’s young side on an unforgettable Champions League run, knocking out Real Madrid and Juventus. Since then, his reputation as a leader, organiser, and relentless competitor has only grown.
Manchester United has long admired De Ligt, but they never landed him until last season. As Bayern Munich underwent another transition with a new coach and defensive uncertainty, Manchester United made no mistake but to snatch their prize man.
More importantly, De Ligt’s success underlines a crucial truth: winning is not always about time—it’s about culture. Bring in the right players, with the right mindset, and results will follow quickly. Because of all their spending, United still lacks enough players to walk into the dressing room and expect to win. De Ligt would change that. His track record proves it despite picking up a few knocks since his arrival.
Ange Postecoglou: Master of the second season
There is, however, another template United might study, one that embraces patience: Ange Postecoglou. The Australian is perhaps the ultimate “second-season specialist.” When he joined Celtic in 2021, the Glasgow giants were reeling from one of their worst seasons in a decade.
Postecoglou’s first few months were turbulent—early Champions League elimination, defensive lapses, and a squad still adjusting to his high-risk, high-reward style of football. But he stuck to his philosophy, earned trust, and won the Scottish Premiership and League Cup.
By year two, his Celtic side was unstoppable, winning the domestic treble, dominating possession statistics, and playing with the flair that defined Postecoglou’s ethos.
At Tottenham, his trajectory has followed a similar arc. Injury setbacks and mid-season fatigue followed an electric start to the 2023-24 season. But his ideas are clear. The players are buying in. If patterns hold, Spurs were touted as strong contenders in his second campaign, but so far have failed to live up to the billing.
Postecoglou shows that while immediate winning might not be possible everywhere, a clear vision and unwavering belief in a system eventually lead to success. He doesn’t compromise. And crucially, he convinces everyone around him not to compromise either.
United, in contrast, has lacked that clarity. Under Amorim, the club has oscillated between high pressing and deep sitting, from structured buildup to direct counters. Injuries haven’t helped, but the tactical identity has never felt settled. Postecoglou proves that once the vision is locked in and supported, second-season miracles are not only possible—they’re expected.
A European crown—With history on the line
If there is one thing that can salvage this season and inspire belief at every level of the club, it’s this: Manchester United are on the verge of making European history. No team has ever won an unbeaten major UEFA club competition. United are close. They've yet to taste defeat through the group stage and knockout rounds in the Europa League. And firmly in the final, there’s a realistic path to immortality.
Under the guidance of manager Rúben Amorim, United has navigated the Europa League with remarkable consistency. Their journey to the final included a commanding 7-1 aggregate victory over Athletic Club in the semifinals, highlighted by a 4-1 win at Old Trafford. This unbeaten run underscores Amorim's reputation for making an immediate impact, echoing his previous success in leading Sporting CP to a league title in his first season.
This would be a symbolic return to continental relevance for a club built on glorious European nights—from Busby’s Babes to Ferguson’s treble-winners. And it would offer Champions League qualification via silverware, circumventing the chaos of the Premier League table. More than that, it would signal that this squad still has something rare: resilience, belief, and the DNA of winners.
Manchester United: A moment of truth
As things stand, Manchester United’s season hangs in the balance. The Premier League top five is impossible. A trophy would salvage pride, and a guaranteed Champions League spot could transform their summer.
With INEOS, now in complete control of football operations and serious about reshaping United, they have leaned into profiles that align with proven success. Amorim and De Ligt symbolise method, belief, and most importantly, winning habits.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford pride themselves on data, structure, and long-term planning. Amorim, with his defined playing style and adaptability, fits that mould. However, having been in charge a little under six months has been a little topsy turvy with his team languishing in 15th on the table and could record its lowest finish in the club's history since returning to top-flight football.
Football today is a results business, but it’s also about vision. Amorim wins early because he instils clarity from day one. De Ligt wins because he embodies professionalism and drive. Postecoglou wins because he believes deeply in the process. Manchester United need a bit of all three.
The club remains at a crossroads as the season draws to a close. But perhaps the answer isn’t as elusive as it seems. The examples are there. The blueprints have already been written. The question is: will United follow them?
Comes what may on May 21st at San Mames in Bilbao, Spain, something will have to give, and something will remain the same. Will Ruben Amorim cement his name as “Mr. First Season”, or will Ange Postecoglou remain the second-season specialist?
While defenders don’t usually get such nicknames, Matthijs de Ligt has quietly built a reputation for being part of title-winning sides as quickly as he joined.