Ruben Amorim has been sacked as Manchester United head coach after 14 months in charge, following a breakdown in relations within the club’s football department.
United, who currently sit sixth in the Premier League, confirmed the decision in a statement on Monday, saying the change was made to give the team the “best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish”.
“The club’s leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change,” the statement read. “The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future.”
Former midfielder Darren Fletcher has been placed in temporary charge and will oversee Wednesday’s league fixture against Burnley.
Amorim’s departure comes less than 24 hours after a tense and revealing press conference in which the 40-year-old forcefully asserted his authority and appeared to question his long-term position at Old Trafford. In a fiery exchange with reporters, Amorim stressed that he was Manchester United’s manager not merely a head coach and appeared to direct criticism towards the club’s recruitment and football operations.
“I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United,” Amorim said. “And that is clear.
“I know that my name is not Tuchel, it’s not Conte, it’s not Mourinho, but I’m the manager of Manchester United. I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me.”
Those remarks followed reports that Amorim’s tactical approach had been questioned internally, including by head of recruitment Christopher Vivell, and that his working relationship with director of football Jason Wilcox had become increasingly strained. United sources indicated that dialogue between Amorim and senior figures behind the scenes had grown more fraught in recent weeks.
Tensions had already surfaced earlier in the week when Amorim declined to clarify comments regarding the club’s transfer strategy ahead of the match against Leeds United, cutting a visibly frustrated figure as he alluded to issues away from the pitch.
Despite those off-field concerns, United remain in the hunt for European qualification, sitting sixth in the table. However, club leadership has now opted for a change, prioritising stability and alignment within the football department as the season enters its decisive phase.
Amorim departs having arrived with a reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches, but his tenure was ultimately undermined by internal discord, inconsistent results and mounting pressure behind the scenes.
Siara Costa is a football editor and writer covering both European men’s and women’s football, with a focus on league competitions, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling.
