Ruben Amorim’s time at Manchester United was a nightmare, ending with his dismissal in January 2026 after a mere 14 months.
Hired in late 2024, he oversaw one of the club’s bleakest Premier League chapters.
His league points-per-game averaged 1.23 was the lowest for any United manager in the PL era, worse than Ralf Rangnick’s interim stint.
The team regressed sharply as United limped to 15th in 2024-25 with 42 points, flirting with relegation danger.
They endured thrashings, an early EFL Cup exit (including a shootout loss to Grimsby Town), and a Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.
Several players regressed as well under Amorim’s inflexible 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 setup.
Kobbie Mainoo suffered notably, benched or limited, with zero Premier League starts this season under Amorim (under 250 minutes played).
Amorim questioned his physicality and engine, even experimenting him as a false 9 and things got so bad Mainoo was pushing for a loan or exit.
Yet, the sole growth story emerged from a fan’s Instagram empire, built directly on the club’s downfall.
Frank Ilett (@theunitedstrand) started his gimmick in October 2024, no haircut until United won five consecutive games.
Under Amorim, the max streak was three—his hair grew unchecked for over 490 days, turning him into a viral sensation.
His account has now exploded to over 1 million followers with daily hair updates, match rants, and United memes.
Fame followed as he has now done Paddy Power ads, CNN Sports interviews (with Don Riddell), Sky Sports spots, NBC News, SPORTbible, Daily Mail features, and Stretford Paddock podcasts.
A 1M-follower Instagram account (mega-influencer tier) boasts strong earning potential.
Sponsored posts typically fetch $5,000–$25,000 each (often $10,000–$15,000), per 2025-2026.
Factors like engagement, niche (sports/football), and negotiation boost rates; monthly earnings can hit $15,000+ via deals, affiliates, and appearances. Additional streams include brand campaigns and media gigs.
But the once-funny stunt now grates on normal fans. What began as relatable banter feels like profiting from prolonged suffering as his empire thriving precisely because the team kept losing.
Amorim was so useless that this guys account grew to ONE million followers. pic.twitter.com/HsrZEF4GIt
— Abiola (@Biyo_lar) February 8, 2026
Under interim Michael Carrick, United surged with four straight Premier League wins (over City, Arsenal, Fulham, and 2-0 vs. Tottenham), climbing into the top four.
Mainoo thrives in a balanced 4-2-3-1—box-to-box freedom, proving Amorim’s misjudgment.
A West Ham victory would trigger five in a row, forcing Ilett’s haircut.
If they falter, his locks and monetized fame, grow longer.
In United’s revival, Ilett’s strand stands as a bittersweet reminder: one man’s gain came at the club’s heavy cost.
