Manchester United Sack Ruben Amorim After 14-Month Reign as Head Coach
Manchester United have officially ended Ruben Amorim’s tenure as head coach, bringing his 14-month spell at Old Trafford to a close. The Portuguese manager’s final match was a 1-1 Premier League draw away to Leeds United on Sunday, a result that left the club sixth in the table after 20 league fixtures.
Manchester United have parted ways with Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge following internal tensions, tactical disputes, and mixed results, with Darren Fletcher stepping in as interim head coach.
Darren Fletcher, a former United midfielder who currently oversees the club’s Under-18 side, has been appointed interim head coach. His first assignment will be Wednesday night’s away league fixture against Burnley. The club is expected to delay the appointment of a permanent successor until the summer.
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The decision to dismiss Amorim was reached by United’s senior leadership, including chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, after relations deteriorated behind the scenes. Discussions involving ownership also took place, with the Glazer family, who retain majority control, involved in the final call.
Under the terms of the agreement that brought Amorim from Sporting CP in November 2024, Manchester United are required to pay out the remainder of his contract in full. The deal, which had no reduced-exit clause, was due to run until 2027 and included an option for an additional year.
A club statement released following reporting by The Athletic confirmed Amorim’s departure, explaining that the move was made “reluctantly” but deemed “the right time to make a change” in order to give the team “the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.” United also thanked Amorim for his service and wished him well in the future.
After the draw at Elland Road, Amorim had hinted at growing friction within the club. In his post-match press conference, he stressed that he viewed himself as the “manager” rather than merely the “coach,” comments that drew attention to tensions with the hierarchy. He insisted he had no intention of resigning, stating he would continue until the board decided otherwise.
Throughout his time at United, Amorim faced criticism for a perceived lack of tactical flexibility, largely due to his preference for a 3-4-3 system. While United experimented with alternative formations in training, as reported in December, Amorim’s match-day choices often reverted to his favored structure. A notable exception came on December 26, when United defeated Newcastle United 1-0 using a 4-2-3-1 before switching back to a back-three formation in subsequent matches.
Ahead of the Leeds fixture, Amorim acknowledged differences of opinion regarding his system and expressed frustration at the club’s inability to recruit players suited to it. Despite those concerns, he once again deployed a 3-4-3 against Leeds.
United paid €11 million (£9.25m; $11.95m) to appoint Amorim from Sporting CP, where he had enjoyed significant success. During his time in Portugal, he won the Primeira Liga titles in 2021 and 2024 and lifted the Taca da Liga on two occasions. He replaced Erik ten Hag, who departed after two and a half years as United manager.
Following Ten Hag’s exit, United endured their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th with 42 points — their lowest top-flight tally since relegation in the 1973–74 season. Cup competitions also brought disappointment, with exits in the FA Cup fifth round against Fulham and the Carabao Cup quarter-finals to Tottenham Hotspur. United did reach the Europa League final but were again beaten by Spurs in Bilbao, sealing a trophyless season and denying them European qualification for the first time since 2014.
The club invested heavily during the 2025 summer transfer window, spending over £200 million on new arrivals. Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha were all signed for fees exceeding £60 million, while goalkeeper Senne Lammens joined from Royal Antwerp for £18.2 million on deadline day.
Despite the spending, United made their poorest start to a league season since 1992–93, collecting just seven points from their opening six Premier League matches. In September, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe visited the Carrington training complex for meetings with senior figures, including Amorim, amid concerns over performances.
Earlier in the campaign, following a shock Carabao Cup defeat to League Two side Grimsby Town in August, Amorim publicly questioned his future, saying “something has to change” and suggesting his players had made their feelings clear. He later remarked that his relationship with the squad fluctuated dramatically.
Before joining United, Amorim had been considered as a potential successor to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool before Arne Slot was appointed, and he also held talks with West Ham United over replacing David Moyes, later describing those discussions as a mistake.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, Manchester United have appointed six permanent managers and have finished no higher than second in the Premier League, a position achieved under Jose Mourinho in 2017–18 and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2020–21. The club has spent more than £50 million on managerial dismissals during that period.
How the Situation Unravelled
Questions surrounding Amorim’s position had surfaced at various points, but his comments after the Leeds match proved decisive. While he had previously criticized players and himself, this was the first occasion he openly challenged those above him, exposing tensions over selection decisions, recruitment, and results.
Amorim effectively issued an ultimatum to the club’s hierarchy, seeking full backing or dismissal. United opted for the latter. His role as “head coach,” introduced as part of Ratcliffe’s restructuring, already represented a shift from tradition and raised concerns internally.
Disagreements also emerged over playing style, with Wilcox known to have engaged Amorim in discussions about formations. Although their working relationship had once been considered strong, Amorim’s public remarks suggested a breakdown. Persisting with a back-three against Leeds, he named only two attacking players in Sesko and Cunha, leaving Joshua Zirkzee on the bench. The draw meant United had taken 13 points from their previous nine games against relatively modest opposition, despite remaining close to the Champions League qualification places.
Transfer frustrations compounded matters, particularly United’s failure to secure Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in January. Amorim’s departure now raises broader questions about INEOS’ decision-making under Ratcliffe’s stewardship, given the short duration and contentious end to his tenure.
Berrada had been a strong advocate for Amorim’s appointment, believing his charisma and success in Portugal suited United’s needs. Former sporting director Dan Ashworth, however, had pushed for candidates with Premier League experience and cautioned against imposing a new system on the existing squad.
While Ratcliffe, Berrada, and Wilcox continued to support Amorim publicly, dialogue between the coach and the hierarchy increasingly felt intrusive to him. Meanwhile, Fletcher, whose role under Amorim had been reduced, impressed in charge of the Under-18s, earning positive feedback from players.
The Glazer family continue to monitor developments closely as United enter another transitional period. Amorim’s exit, coming less than three months after Ratcliffe stated he deserved three years to prove himself, highlights how quickly confidence eroded and leaves major questions about the club’s long-term direction.
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