Manchester United sack Rúben Amorim after turbulent 14 months in charge

Manchester United have sacked head coach Rúben Amorim after just 14 months in charge, bringing an abrupt end to a turbulent tenure at Old Trafford. The Portuguese coach’s dismissal was confirmed on Monday morning, less than 24 hours after a disappointing 1–1 draw against Leeds United that intensified scrutiny over his position.
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Amorim was appointed in November 2024 as the man to lead United into a new era following the departure of Erik ten Hag, arriving with a reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches after his success at Sporting CP. However, despite initial optimism, United’s hierarchy increasingly felt that the team was not progressing on the pitch and that key expectations around style, results and dressing-room harmony were not being met.

Club sources indicate that results and performances were central to the decision, with United stuck outside the title race and fighting merely to stay competitive in the race for Champions League qualification. Amorim’s record stood at 24 wins in 63 matches in all competitions, a win rate of around 38%, placing him among the least successful managers of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era in statistical terms.
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Tactical concerns also weighed heavily on the board’s thinking. Amorim’s insistence on his preferred 3‑4‑3 system, coupled with what senior figures viewed as a reluctance to adapt to the strengths and limitations of the squad, was seen as a major factor behind United’s inconsistent performances. Decision-makers felt that there was insufficient “evolution” in the team’s play, with the side often looking disjointed in possession and vulnerable in defensive transitions against top-level opposition.

Behind the scenes, relations between Amorim and parts of the club’s leadership had become strained in recent months. Tensions reportedly flared in meetings with director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, where disagreements over tactical approach, recruitment priorities and communication style created a growing disconnect. Sources described Amorim’s behaviour as increasingly emotional and combative, with some senior figures questioning whether he was willing to fully buy into the broader sporting structure being implemented under the new regime.

The breaking point is widely believed to have come after the draw with Leeds, when Amorim delivered a fiery post-match press conference. In it, he publicly challenged elements of the club’s direction and demanded that others “do their jobs” if United were to compete at the highest level, remarks that were poorly received in the boardroom and interpreted as a direct challenge to the hierarchy. Within 24 hours, the decision to remove him had been finalised.

Manchester United confirmed Amorim’s departure in a brief statement, thanking him and his staff for their work but offering little detail on the internal factors behind the change. The club emphasised its desire to realign on a clear footballing identity and long-term project as the INEOS-led era under Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues to reshape the structure and culture at Old Trafford.

In the short term, United have turned to within the club, with academy figure Darren Fletcher expected to step in as interim head coach for the upcoming fixtures while a permanent successor is identified. The search is likely to focus on candidates seen as tactically flexible and capable of working within a modern, data-led football department, as the club looks to stabilise a season that has again veered off course.

Amorim, meanwhile, is expected to return to Portugal and assess his options after a bruising first experience in the Premier League. Those close to the 41-year-old suggest he remains convinced that he did not receive the level of backing and squad overhaul required to implement his ideas fully, and that he feels disappointed with the manner of his exit. Nonetheless, his track record in his homeland means he is likely to attract interest from clubs across Europe once the dust settles on a chaotic spell in Manchester.

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