Manchester United have parted ways with head coach Ruben Amorim, bringing an end to the Portuguese coach’s 14-month spell at Old Trafford. The club confirmed the decision on Monday, with Darren Fletcher set to take temporary charge for the remainder of the season.
United said they have begun the process of identifying a new head coach, with a permanent appointment expected to be made at the end of the campaign. According to reports, the club intend to continue with an interim coaching structure until then.
In a statement, United said: “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.”
Amorim was appointed on 1 November 2024 on a contract running until June 2027, with an option for an additional year. During his time in charge, the 40-year-old oversaw 63 matches, recording 25 wins, 15 draws and 23 defeats. His tenure included United’s lowest Premier League finish last season, when they ended 15th with 42 points, and defeat in the Europa League final.
Despite a heavy outlay in the transfer market, including a net spend of £165m last summer and around £250m spent since his appointment, United failed to produce a sustained improvement in form. Amorim won 15 of his 46 league games and, while results improved enough to lift the club to sixth this season, they remain only four points above 14th-placed Crystal Palace.
Tensions behind the scenes are understood to have played a significant role in the decision. Amorim’s relationship with director of football Jason Wilcox became increasingly strained, particularly over transfer policy. Amorim had believed the club would back him in the January window if a major signing became available, but later admitted there were no discussions about changing the squad.
After Sunday’s draw with Leeds, Amorim voiced his frustration publicly. “I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United,” he said. “That is clear. I know my name is not Tuchel, Mourinho or Conte, but I’m the manager.”
He added: “It’s going to be like this for 18 months or until the board decide to change. I’m not going to quit, I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me.”
United’s hierarchy maintain that Amorim was fully supported and insist his dismissal was based on a lack of progress and evolution. There is also a view within the club that his preferred 3-4-3 system, which brought success at Sporting, may not have suited a longer-term strategy, particularly with uncertainty over whether future coaches would adopt the same approach.
Amorim also suggested that external criticism had begun to outweigh his influence internally. “If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticisms of everything, we need to change the club,” he said.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe had publicly backed Amorim as recently as October, saying he should be judged after three years in charge. However, United moved swiftly after the Leeds draw, concluding that a change was necessary.
Darren Fletcher, a former United midfielder and current member of the coaching staff, will take charge of the team for Wednesday’s match against Burnley as the club begin the search for their seventh permanent manager or head coach since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
