By Deborah Nnamdi
Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim as manager just 14 months after his appointment, the club announced on Monday.
In a statement, United said the Portuguese coach had left his role, adding that the club’s leadership had “reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change” in order 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.
United confirmed that Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher will take charge of the team for Wednesday’s Premier League clash against Burnley.
The decision comes with United sitting sixth in the Premier League table following a 1-1 draw away at Leeds on Sunday. After that match, Amorim cut a frustrated figure during a tense press conference, insisting he was Manchester United’s manager rather than merely a coach, and publicly urging the scouting department and director of football, Jason Wilcox, “to do their job.”
The 40-year-old had earlier hinted at behind-the-scenes tensions, declining to clarify comments he had made about the club’s transfer strategy. While he appeared subdued before the Leeds game, Amorim was more outspoken afterwards when asked about the board’s confidence in him.
“I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United,” he said. “I know that my name is not Thomas Tuchel, Antonio Conte or Jose Mourinho, but I’m the manager of Manchester United. It’s going to be like this for 18 months or until the board decides to change.”
“I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy comes here to replace me,” he added.
Amorim was appointed in November 2024 and guided United to the Europa League final in Bilbao last May, where they lost to Tottenham Hotspur. However, the club endured a disappointing domestic campaign, finishing 15th in the Premier League last season.
His 14-month spell is the shortest reign of a permanent Manchester United manager since David Moyes was dismissed eight months into his tenure in 2014. United, 20-time English champions, have not won the Premier League since 2013, the final season under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
