Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim has been sacked by Manchester United after 14 months in charge of the club.
The news has been officially confirmed by the club in a short statement.
“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 wrote.
“The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future,” it adds.
The decision marks the end of a tumultuous relationship between Amorim, the coach who dazzled the football world by leading Sporting CP to two Portuguese league titles after the club suffered a nearly 20-year drought, and the Red Devils.
The 40-year-old coach took charge of Manchester United in November 2024 and was seen as the man who would finally turn the tide for the club, which has yet to win a Premier League title since the retirement of legendary coach Sir Alex Ferguson. But his leadership was quickly brought into question after a series of negative results, which saw the club fall several spots in the Premier League and finish the 2024/2025 season in 15th place – its worst-ever finish since the Premier League was created. He did lead United to the final of the UEFA Europa League, though this also ended in a heartbreak with a 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
His insistence on playing in a 3-4-3 formation – which was so successful during his time at Sporting – was heavily criticised in England, where fans and pundits argued that Amorim lacked the players to be successful playing this way.
Despite the team’s poor performance last season, Man United’s board gave him a vote of confidence over the summer and spent upwards of £250 million in signings since Amorim took charge. Still, the Portuguese coach hinted that he was unhappy with the board and his lack of control over the squad over the weekend after a 1-1 draw at Leeds, which left the club sitting at 5th place in the Premier League.
“I just want to say I came here to be the manager, not to be the coach,” he said. “I was really clear on that. That was the deal. That is my job. Not to be a coach.”
“I know my name is not Conte, Mourinho, or Tuchel, but I am the manager of Manchester United and will continue for 18 months or until the board decides to change.”
Amorim also suggested hat United have become too sensitive to outside criticism.
“If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticisms of everything, we need to change the club.”
These statements may have been the final straw for United’s board, which made a decision this morning that many had seen coming for a long time.
