Manchester United sacked head coach Ruben Amorim, the club confirmed on Monday morning, bringing an abrupt end to the Portuguese tactician’s turbulent 14-month reign at Old Trafford.
The decision came less than 24 hours after Amorim delivered a stunning and confrontational news conference following United’s 1–1 Premier League draw with Leeds United, during which he urged club executives to “do your jobs” and insisted he wanted to be “manager, not the coach.”
Amorim was informed of the decision in person at Carrington on Monday by director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada.
Club sources have denied that the sacking was triggered by a total breakdown in Amorim’s relationship with Wilcox, insisting instead that the hierarchy “have not seen enough signs of evolution or progress.”
However, sources also confirmed that the dismissal followed an explosive internal meeting on Friday.
Despite the public confrontation, United sources insist the dismissal was not based solely on internal tensions.
They maintain that Amorim was “fully aligned” with the club’s January transfer strategy and that the decision was taken to “give a capable and committed squad the best chance of being successful.”
Darren Fletcher to Take Charge as United Weigh Interim Option
United’s Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher will take charge of the first team for Wednesday’s away trip to Burnley.
According to reports, the club is still mapping out a succession plan but is leaning towards appointing an interim manager until the end of the season, before making a permanent appointment in the summer.
Clash Over Tactics and Authority
According to sources, Amorim reacted badly when discussions during Friday’s meeting shifted toward his preferred 3-4-3 system and the need for the team’s style of play to evolve.
Wilcox had reportedly intended the meeting to centre on feedback from the 1–1 draw with Wolves three days earlier, but Amorim’s response was described as “too emotional”, convincing senior figures that his working relationship with Wilcox had fractured.
That tension spilled into public view during the fraught news conference at Elland Road, where Amorim demanded greater authority and openly criticised the club’s structure.
Amorim’s Final Words: ‘I Want to Be the Manager, Not the Coach’
Speaking after the Leeds draw, Amorim said:
“I noticed that you receive selective information about everything. I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United and that is clear.”
“I know that my name is not [Thomas] Tuchel, it’s not [Antonio] Conte, it’s not [Jose] Mourinho, but I’m the manager of Manchester United.”
“And it’s going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decided to change.”
“I will do my job and every department, the scouting department, the sporting director, needs to do their job.”
“I will do mine for 18 months and then we will watch.”
“So that was my point. I want to finish with that. I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until other guy is coming here to replace me.”
“And that is going to finish in 18 months, and then everyone is going to move on. That was the deal.”
“That is my job, not to be a coach.”
He also aimed a pointed dig at the club’s ability to handle external scrutiny, saying:
“If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the critics of everything, we need to change the club.”
Manchester United Statement Confirms Departure
A club statement released on Monday read:
“Ruben Amorim has departed his role as Head Coach of Manchester United.”
“With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club’s leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change.”
“This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.”
“The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future.”
A Turbulent 14 Months at Old Trafford
Amorim arrived from Sporting CP in November 2024 on a contract running until June 2027, widely viewed as one of Europe’s brightest young coaches after guiding Sporting to two Portuguese league titles, breaking the Benfica-Porto dominance.
However, his time at United proved deeply unstable.
In total, Amorim:
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Won 24 of 63 matches in charge
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Managed just 15 Premier League victories
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Leaves United sixth in the table, with eight wins from 20 league games this season
According to report, Amorim ultimately proved “too stubborn and too immature” for the demands of the job, refusing to move away from his 3-4-3 system despite promising flexibility.
Another Post-Ferguson Chapter Ends
Amorim now joins a long list of managers who have struggled under the weight of the Manchester United job in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Like Erik ten Hag before him, Amorim bristled at criticism from former players-turned-pundits such as Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Roy Keane.
Others, including David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, each failed for different reasons.
Once again, United find themselves resetting, hoping that the next appointment can finally succeed where so many others have fallen short.
