Leeds United surprised several teams with their tenacity and grit last season in the Premier League on their way to finishing 14th in the final table.
Established Premier League sides were often caught off guard by the intensity and energy Leeds brought to games, and Daniel Farke’s tactical switch midway through the season only made the team even more difficult to break down and beat.
The win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in April was the highlight of the campaign as it ended a four-decade wait for a league victory at the famous stadium.
However, the 1-1 draw at Elland Road in early January generated a different kind of headline, as Ruben Amorim was sacked by Manchester United the following day.
Manchester United eventually recovered under Michael Carrick and finished third in the Premier League, but Amorim’s spell at Old Trafford ended in disappointment after the Red Devils struggled for consistency and momentum.
According to The Athletic, Amorim could now be set for an immediate return to management, with AC Milan identifying the Portuguese as their leading candidate to become the club’s next head coach.
The Rossoneri are looking to move on from the disappointment of finishing fifth in Serie A, 17 points behind champions Inter, and have reportedly been impressed by talks with the former Manchester United boss. They are now pushing to finalise his appointment in the coming days.
Amorim is also understood to be eager for a fresh start at another major European club after his difficult experience in England.
Leeds supporters, though, may still chuckle when they think back to his final moments as Manchester United manager.
His post-match press conference following the draw at Elland Road was widely criticised, with some believing he effectively wrote his own dismissal letter by appearing to question the club’s hierarchy and direction.
What puzzled Leeds fans most was Amorim’s insistence that Manchester United had controlled the match.
Those inside Elland Road saw it very differently. Leeds looked the more dangerous side for large periods of the contest and were unfortunate not to take all three points against their bitter rivals.
While the victory at Old Trafford will forever be remembered as the standout moment of Leeds’ season, Amorim’s meltdown after failing to beat Daniel Farke’s side remains another episode Whites supporters can look back on with satisfaction for years to come.
