Manchester, England: Manchester United have sacked head coach Ruben Amorim after just 14 months in charge, with former midfielder Darren Fletcher appointed interim manager ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash against Burnley.
In an official club statement released on Monday, January 05, United confirmed that Amorim had departed his role following internal deliberations by the club’s leadership, despite the team sitting sixth in the Premier League after 20 matches.
“Ruben was appointed in November 2024 and led the team to a UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao in May,” the club said, adding that the decision was taken to “give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.”
Amorim’s final match was Sunday’s 1–1 draw away to Leeds United at Elland Road, a result that, for the nth time, left United outside the Champions League qualification places and compounded concerns over consistency and direction.
Behind-the-scenes tensions
Sources close to the club indicate that Amorim’s exit followed a breakdown in relations behind the scenes, with senior figures including chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox involved in the decision-making process.
The Portuguese coach had publicly hinted at internal tensions after the Leeds draw, stressing that he viewed himself as the “manager” rather than merely a “coach” at his time of appointment, and insisting he would not resign.
“I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me,” Amorim said at the time, comments that now appear to foreshadow his departure.
Tactical questions and mixed results
Amorim’s tenure was marked by criticism over his perceived tactical rigidity, particularly his preference for a 3-4-3 system. While United experimented with alternative formations in training, including a 4-2-3-1 that delivered a 1–0 win over Newcastle in December, the team frequently reverted to the back-three setup in matches, and the results backfired greatly.
In what was viewed as part of the squad overhaul, United invested heavily in the squad, spending more than £200 million to bring in three attackers: Benjamin Šeško, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, yet performances failed to consistently match expectations.
The club, during Amorim’s tenure, which started in November 2024, also endured a turbulent domestic cup campaign, exiting the FA Cup and Carabao Cup early, before losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao, a defeat that sealed a trophyless season and confirmed the absence of European football next term.
Costly exit, familiar pattern
Amorim, who joined from Sporting CP in a €11 million deal compensation to the Portuguese outfit, had a contract running until 2027 with no break clause, meaning United will be required to pay out the remainder of his deal in full.
His dismissal continues a revolving-door trend at Old Trafford, where six permanent managers have been appointed since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, at a combined cost of more than £50 million in compensation.
What next for United
Darren Fletcher, currently head coach of United’s Under-18s, will take charge on an interim basis, starting with Wednesday night’s away fixture at Burnley. A permanent managerial appointment is expected in the coming days or even weeks.
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