‘Inconsistent Man United’ Sacks Ruben Amorim; Names Replacement

Ruben Amorim has been dismissed from his position as manager of Manchester United. His tenure, which lasted 14 months, concluded with a 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Sunday, leaving the team in sixth place in the Premier League after 20 matches.

In the interim, Darren Fletcher, a former midfielder and the current Under-18s coach, is expected to step in as the caretaker manager.

Fletcher’s first match in charge will be away against Burnley on Wednesday night. The club is likely to pursue a permanent managerial appointment later in the summer.

The decision to part ways with Amorim was made by the club’s leadership team, which includes chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, following concerns regarding internal relationships.

Under the terms of Amorim’s contract that he signed when he left Sporting CP for Manchester United in November 2024, there is no clause allowing for a reduced exit fee. Consequently, Manchester United will need to fulfill the terms of his contract, which was set to last until 2027 with an option for an additional year.

Following The Athletic’s story a club statement officially announced Amorim’s departure saying the decision had “reluctantly” been made because it is “the right time to make a change” to “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 added.

Speaking after the draw at Elland Road, Amorim hinted at tensions with those working alongside him, making clear in his post-match press conference that he considered himself the “manager” of United, not the “coach”.

“It’s going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decide to change,” Amorim added. “That was my point, I want to finish with that. I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me.”

Amorim has been criticised for his perceived tactical inflexibility during his time at United, due to his preference for a 3-4-3 set up. However, The Athletic reported in December that United had been trialling other formations in training. Against Newcastle United on December 26, Amorim’s side recorded a 1-0 win playing in a 4-2-3-1, before reverting to the 3-4-3 and drawing 1-1 against Wolverhampton Wanderers four days later.

Speaking before the Leeds game, Amorim hinted at differences of opinion relating to the 3-4-3 formation and an inability to sign the players his preferred system requires. He again set his team up in the 3-4-3 against Leeds.

United paid €11million (£9.25m; $11.95m) to hire Amorim from Sporting, where he won the Primeira Liga title in 2021 and again in 2024 while also winning the Taca da Liga — the Portuguese League Cup — on two occasions. Amorim succeeded Erik ten Hag, with the Dutchman leaving after two and a half years in charge at Old Trafford.

United went on to suffer their worst-ever Premier League season, finishing 15th with just 42 points — their fewest in a top-flight season since they were relegated in 1973–74.

They went out of the FA Cup in the fifth round at the hands of Fulham, suffered a Carabao Cup exit at the quarter-final stage after losing to Tottenham Hotspur and reached the final of the Europa League, only to lose to the north London side again. Defeat by Spurs in Bilbao sealed a first trophyless campaign since 2021-22 and ensured they failed to secure European football for the first time since 2014.

United spent more than £200million ($269m) on new signings during the 2025 summer transfer window, with Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha all arriving for fees above £60m. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens also arrived from Royal Antwerp in an £18.2m deal on deadline day.

This season United endured their worst opening to a campaign since 1992-93, managing only seven points from their opening six Premier League games.

The Athletic reported in September that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe had flown in to the team’s Carrington training ground for a series of meetings, including with Amorim, with the team’s form on the agenda.

Following the embarrassing Carabao Cup exit at the hands of League Two Grimsby Town in August, Amorim himself called his future into question saying “something has to change” and that the club’s players “clearly showed what they want”. He went on to say later that week that “sometimes I hate my players, sometimes I love my players”.

Amorim was previously in contention to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool before Arne Slot ultimately got the job and also held talks over replacing David Moyes at West Ham, before later apologising and calling the meeting “a mistake”.

United have had six permanent managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and have finished no higher than second in that time, achieved by both Jose Mourinho (2017-18) and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (2020-21). The club have spent more than £50million ($67m, €57m) on removing managers since Ferguson left the role.