‎Why Ruben Amorim’s Own Decisions Led to His Manchester United Dismissal

‎Ruben Amorim’s downfall at Manchester United culminated in a dramatic moment that felt sudden but had clearly been building for months. What began as a relatively routine press conference following a draw away at Leeds United quickly escalated into a defining episode that ultimately sealed his fate just 14 months into his tenure at Old Trafford.

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‎Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United exit was driven by poor results, rigid tactics, and public criticism of the board, not a lack of backing from the club hierarchy.

‎Getty/GOAL

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‎Throughout that media appearance, Amorim appeared visibly low in spirits. When questioned about any changes in his relationship with sporting director Jason Wilcox, he repeatedly declined to comment. However, when asked at the very end whether he still enjoyed the confidence of the board, the United boss launched into an extraordinary response that stunned those in attendance.

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‎Amorim accused journalists of being selectively briefed before insisting he had been appointed as the manager of Manchester United, not merely a coach. He acknowledged he lacked the stature of figures such as Thomas Tuchel, Antonio Conte, or Jose Mourinho, yet stressed that he remained the club’s manager until the board decided otherwise. He went on to underline his desire to control football matters while other departments handled their responsibilities.

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‎That single answer transformed an otherwise uneventful press conference into a moment of high drama. Amorim repeated his demand to be “the manager, not the coach,” before declaring that every department should focus on its own duties for the next 18 months. Instead, his reign ended less than a day later when United dismissed him on Monday morning.

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‎Given the nature of his comments, the decision came as little surprise. The Leeds press conference sounded less like defiance and more like a resignation delivered in public. Amorim had chosen the media as a platform to challenge the very board that had consistently backed him, a move that has rarely ended well for managers, as recent examples at Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have shown.

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‎Criticism had followed Amorim throughout his time in charge. High-profile pundits and club legends regularly questioned his methods, yet he appeared insulated by strong support from the board. This backing remained despite overseeing United’s lowest league finish in more than five decades and missing out on European qualification for the first time in 11 years after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham.

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‎Senior figures publicly defended him. Sir Jim Ratcliffe spoke in October about allowing Amorim three years to prove himself, drawing parallels with Arsenal’s patience under Mikel Arteta. Earlier, chief executive Omar Berrada likened him to Pep Guardiola, praising his commitment to his principles and highlighting how patience at Manchester City eventually paid off.

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‎Those comments made Amorim’s public criticism of the hierarchy all the more unexpected. Club sources later insisted there had been no ultimatums or internal power struggles, but it was clear tensions existed, particularly regarding Wilcox’s reported push for tactical flexibility away from Amorim’s preferred 3-4-2-1 system.

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‎That unwavering commitment to a single formation proved costly. It limited United on the pitch and gradually strained relations behind the scenes. Those familiar with Amorim were unsurprised by his reaction, noting that he dislikes interference and had enjoyed complete authority over transfers and team selection during his time at Sporting CP, a level of control he no longer had in Manchester.

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‎From the club’s perspective, his dismissal was driven by a lack of visible progress. While the timing of his appointment midway through a season raised questions, the underlying statistics painted a bleak picture. Amorim won just 24 of his 63 matches, producing a win rate of 38.7 percent — the poorest of any United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

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‎That figure also marked the worst managerial record at the club since the early 1970s under Frank O’Farrell. Unlike David Moyes, who inherited post-Ferguson upheaval and minimal transfer backing, Amorim was well supported in the market and given freedom to reshape the squad.

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‎United acted swiftly to strengthen the team following his arrival, including signing Patrick Dorgu for added wing-back depth. More controversially, Amorim sanctioned Marcus Rashford’s removal from the squad and eventual exit, a decision that later reflected poorly as the forward revived his career at Aston Villa and Barcelona while reclaiming his England place.

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‎The club’s financial backing intensified over the summer, with £216 million spent on new arrivals. Among them were Premier League-ready attackers Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and marquee signing Benjamin Sesko, acquired for £74 million amid competition from Arsenal and Newcastle. United ranked fifth for overall spending and third for net spend, trailing only Arsenal and Liverpool.

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‎Club insiders also highlighted that Amorim fully endorsed the strategy to prioritise attacking signings over midfield reinforcements. With no European commitments, United enjoyed more training time than their rivals and an even lighter schedule after a shock Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town — the club’s first ever defeat to a fourth-tier side.

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‎Despite those advantages, United failed to capitalise. After 20 league games, they sat sixth in the table, behind teams juggling domestic and European football. Their recent form was alarming, with just three wins from 11 matches and no victories against any of the bottom-six sides they faced during that run.

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‎Old Trafford, once a fortress, became a source of frustration. United collected only six points from their last five home fixtures, suffering defeat to 10-man Everton and drawing against Wolves, West Ham, and Bournemouth. Even their win over Newcastle owed much to fortune, with the visitors dominant after the break.

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‎Beyond results, Amorim’s leadership further alienated supporters. His handling of academy talent drew heavy criticism, with Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho pushed aside and Kobbie Mainoo largely overlooked. Comments perceived as dismissive towards young players like Chido Obi and Harry Amass only deepened discontent among fans proud of the club’s youth tradition.

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‎He also publicly undermined his squad with remarks that shocked observers, including suggesting he would rather play his goalkeeping coach than Rashford and branding the team as potentially the worst in the club’s history. Christian Eriksen later admitted such comments damaged morale and added unnecessary pressure.

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‎Amorim’s tenure became defined by controversy rather than progress. Many believe his dismissal should have come sooner, with moments such as the Europa League final loss to Tottenham or the defeat at Brentford in September cited as missed opportunities for change.

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‎Ultimately, Amorim survived as long as he did because of the board’s loyalty. Once he turned that criticism back on them in public, however, his position became untenable — and his time at Manchester United swiftly came to an end.