Manchester United sack Ruben Amorim

Manchester United have sacked boss Ruben Amorim with the club sixth in the Premier League table.

Amorim’s final game in charge was yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Leeds, after which the Portuguese made some outspoken comments that hinted of conflict behind the scenes.

He said: “I just want to say I came here to be the manager, not to be the coach.

“In every department – the scouting department, the sporting director – [they] need to do their job. I will do mine for 18 months and then we move on.

“I just want to say that I’m going to be the manager of this team, not just the coach. I was really clear on that. 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.”

Amorim departs Manchester United after just 14 months

Amorim took charge in November 2024 – and was described as the ‘head coach’ by United at the time – but has failed to implement the ideas that made him one of Europe’s most highly regarded tacticians during his time at Sporting CP.

The club finished 15th in the Premier League last season, just four points above the relegation zone, with Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 formation being a regular talking point.

And despite signs of a more flexible approach in recent weeks, and with United at least challenging at the right end of the table, the axe fell this morning.

Manchester United: It’s the right time to make a change

A club statement read: “Ruben Amorim has departed his role as head coach of Manchester United.

“Ruben was appointed in November 2024 and led the team to a Europa League Final in Bilbao in May.

“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.”

The statement ended by confirming former United midfielder and current Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher will take interim charge for Wednesday’s trip to Burnley.

Europa League final defeat after woeful performance

Reaching the Europa League final was the highlight of Amorim’s spell in charge but, even then, United turned in an abject display in Bilbao to lose 1-0 to Tottenham.

Defeat meant United missed out on European football for the first time since 2014.

Despite that, Amorim was repeatedly backed by the club’s hierarchy that includes minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.

In October, roughly six weeks after an embarrassing EFL Cup exit at League Two side Grimsby, Ratcliffe said “good guy” Amorim needed to prove himself over three years, hinting he would be given time to see out his contract.

But asked after the draw at Elland Road if he felt he still had the support of those above him at Old Trafford, he answered somewhat pointedly: “To start with that, I noticed that you received selective information about everything.

“I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United. 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 decides to change.

“I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me.”

Amorim backed in the transfer window

United paid £9.25 to prise Amorim from Sporting, with whom he won the Primeira Liga title twice.

They then backed him in the transfer window last summer, splashing out over £200million to bolster a faltering attack with the likes of Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens also arrived with error-prone Andre Onana shipped out.

But the early results were not positive as United endured their worst start to a Premier League season since 1992-93 with just seven points taken from their first six games.

They have been much better since, suffering just two defeats in 14 league games, but off-field differences prompted United to make the decision today.

Amorim oversaw 63 games as United manager, winning just 24 with 18 draws and 21 defeats.