Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim, bringing his 14-month spell at Old Trafford to an end.
The Portuguese coach’s final match in charge was a 1–1 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday. The result leaves United sixth in the Premier League after 20 matches.
Former midfielder and current Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher is expected to take charge on an interim basis. His first match is likely to be away at Burnley on Wednesday night. The club is not expected to appoint a permanent manager until the summer.
The decision to dismiss Amorim was taken by Manchester United’s leadership team, including Chief Executive Omar Berrada and Director of Football Jason Wilcox, following a breakdown in relations behind the scenes.
Under the terms of the contract Amorim signed when he joined from Sporting CP in November 2024, there is no clause allowing for a discounted exit. As a result, United will be required to pay out his contract in full. The deal was due to run until 2027, with the option of an additional year.
Speaking after the draw at Elland Road, Amorim appeared to reference internal tensions. In his post-match press conference, he stressed that he viewed himself as the “manager” of Manchester United rather than merely the “coach.”
“It’s going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decide to change,” Amorim said. “That was my point, I want to finish with that. I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy comes here to replace me.”
During his time at the club, Amorim faced criticism for a perceived lack of tactical flexibility, largely due to his preference for a 3-4-3 formation. However, The Athletic reported in December that United had been trialling alternative systems in training.
United recorded a 1–0 win over Newcastle United on December 26 while playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation, before returning to the 3-4-3 in a 1–1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers four days later.
Ahead of the Leeds match, Amorim again hinted at differences of opinion over his tactical approach, as well as difficulties in signing players suited to his preferred system. Despite this, he remained committed to the 3-4-3 formation for what proved to be his final game in charge.
