Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim has introduced a formal policy requiring half the first-team squad to sign autographs for fans outside Old Trafford before matches, with the other half doing so afterwards, a measure designed to restore routine contact between players and supporters. The directive, reported by United insiders and covered in a recent feature on the manager’s first year, is part of a wider push by Amorim to set standards around professionalism and public engagement.
Club sources say the rule was prompted after a period in which an increasing number of players were observed ignoring supporters on matchdays or arriving and leaving the stadium without the customary interaction. Amorim — who has repeatedly been praised for his hands-on approach and willingness to stay behind to take photos and sign for fans himself — laid down the requirement to ensure all squad members share responsibility for maintaining the link between team and supporters. The change is framed less as punishment and more as standardisation of matchday etiquette.
The measure is straightforward in its implementation: matchday squads will be split so that half sign for fans outside the stadium before kick-off while the remaining players commit to staying afterwards to meet supporters and pose for photos. Coaches and staff are understood to oversee the rota to avoid disrupting pre-match routines and to make sure players are available for tactical preparations. Those close to the manager describe the policy as pragmatic — a small, visible way of rebuilding goodwill after a turbulent season.
Reactions among supporters have been broadly positive on social media, where many fans welcomed a formal guarantee of access to players. Some commentators, however, warned that a fixed obligation risks forcing encounters and could cut into essential warm-up time if not carefully managed. United’s fan liaison department is reported to be coordinating with the club’s security and coaching staff to strike the right balance.
Amorim’s wider management style — demanding, public-facing and detail-oriented — has already brought other changes at Carrington, from training methods to squad discipline. The autograph rule fits that template: a small operational tweak intended to reinforce standards, protect the club’s image and remind players of their role as public figures who represent a global fanbase. Whether it becomes permanent will depend on how smoothly it is integrated into matchday routines and how players, staff and supporters respond over the coming weeks.
