Manchester United Sack Ruben Amorim After 14-Month Reign as Head Coach
Manchester United have officially ended Ruben Amorim’s spell as head coach, bringing his 14-month tenure at Old Trafford to a close. The decision follows Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw away to Leeds United, a result that left the club sixth in the table after 20 matches.
Manchester United have parted ways with Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge following internal tensions and mixed results, with Darren Fletcher stepping in as interim head coach.
Amorim’s final outing came at Elland Road, and the club moved swiftly afterwards. Darren Fletcher, a former United midfielder who currently oversees the Under-18s, has been appointed interim head coach. His first match in temporary charge will be Wednesday night’s trip to Burnley, while a long-term replacement is expected to be identified in the summer.
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The dismissal was reached by United’s senior leadership, including chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, after relations behind the scenes deteriorated. As stipulated in the agreement Amorim signed when leaving Sporting CP for United in November 2024, there is no clause allowing for a reduced termination fee. His contract was due to run until 2027, with an option for an additional year, meaning United must pay the deal in full.
A club statement released after reporting by The Athletic confirmed that Amorim’s departure had been decided “reluctantly.” United explained the timing by stating it was “the right time to make a change” in order to give the team “the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.” The statement also thanked Amorim for his work and wished him well for the future.
Tensions became more visible following the Leeds draw, when Amorim addressed his role in pointed terms during his post-match press conference. He stressed that he viewed himself as the club’s “manager” rather than merely a “coach,” and suggested that uncertainty around authority and control would persist unless the board acted. Amorim insisted he would not resign and would continue working until replaced.
Throughout his time at United, Amorim faced criticism for sticking closely to his preferred 3-4-3 formation. Although United experimented with alternative systems in training, the back-three approach remained central. A notable exception came on December 26, when United beat Newcastle United 1-0 using a 4-2-3-1, before reverting to the 3-4-3 in a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers days later.
Ahead of the Leeds match, Amorim acknowledged disagreements regarding tactics and pointed to difficulties in recruiting players suited to his system. Despite this, he again deployed the 3-4-3. United paid €11 million (£9.25m; $11.95m) to appoint Amorim from Sporting, where he won the Primeira Liga in 2021 and 2024, along with two Portuguese League Cups. He replaced Erik ten Hag, who had spent two and a half years in charge.
Under Amorim, United endured their worst Premier League finish, ending a season in 15th place with 42 points — the club’s lowest total since relegation in 1973-74. Cup competitions brought further disappointment, with elimination in the FA Cup fifth round by Fulham, a Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, and a Europa League final loss to Spurs in Bilbao. That defeat confirmed United’s first trophyless season since 2021-22 and their first absence from European competition since 2014.
The club invested heavily during the 2025 summer transfer window, spending over £200 million. High-profile arrivals included Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, each costing more than £60 million, while goalkeeper Senne Lammens joined from Royal Antwerp for £18.2 million on deadline day.
Despite the spending, the current campaign began poorly. United collected just seven points from their opening six league matches, marking their worst start since the 1992-93 season. In September, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe visited the Carrington training ground for discussions that included Amorim, with results and performances under scrutiny.
Following a shock Carabao Cup defeat to League Two side Grimsby Town in August, Amorim openly questioned his future, stating that “something has to change” and suggesting the players had made their views clear. Later that week, he remarked that his feelings toward the squad fluctuated sharply, alternating between frustration and affection.
Before joining United, Amorim had been linked with the Liverpool job prior to Arne Slot’s appointment and held talks with West Ham United about succeeding David Moyes, later apologising and describing those discussions as a mistake.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, United have appointed six permanent managers and have not finished higher than second in the Premier League, a position achieved under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The club has spent more than £50 million on managerial dismissals during that period.
Amorim’s exit followed escalating tensions over control, recruitment and tactical direction. His comments at Elland Road were viewed as a challenge to the hierarchy, effectively asking for full backing or dismissal. The decision to part ways was taken alongside the Glazer family, the club’s majority shareholders.
Appointed as head coach rather than manager as part of a structural overhaul led by Ratcliffe, Amorim believed he should retain authority over team selection while recruitment responsibilities sat with Wilcox. Friction grew over formations and style of play, with Wilcox known to have discussed tactical choices directly with Amorim.
Although Amorim briefly moved away from a back three against Bournemouth and Newcastle United, he reverted to his preferred system against Wolves and Leeds. The draw at Elland Road saw only two attacking players — Sesko and Cunha — start, with Joshua Zirkzee left on the bench. United’s return of 13 points from their last nine games came against relatively modest opposition, even though the club remained within reach of Champions League qualification.
Transfer frustrations also played a role, particularly United’s failure to complete a move for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during the January window. Amorim’s departure has raised broader questions about Ratcliffe’s stewardship, given the short and acrimonious nature of the tenure.
Berrada had strongly supported Amorim’s appointment, believing his personality and title-winning record in Portugal suited United. Former sporting director Dan Ashworth proposed alternatives with Premier League experience and cautioned about introducing a new system, while Wilcox also harboured doubts about a back-three approach before ultimately backing the decision.
Despite continued public support, Amorim came to view recent input from Ratcliffe and others as interference. Fletcher, whose influence under Amorim had diminished, now steps in as interim boss after a successful period with the Under-18s.
Ratcliffe had previously stated that Amorim deserved three years to prove himself, making the swift reversal all the more striking. The episode has added to scrutiny of INEOS’ decision-making, particularly after significant investment in the squad and a clear commitment to a defined tactical identity. Amorim largely remained loyal to his philosophy — a factor that ultimately contributed to his dismissal — leaving uncertainty over the direction United’s ownership will now pursue.
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