Ruben Amorim has been sacked by Manchester United.
The Portuguese international’s final game in charge was Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Leeds that leaves them sixth in the Premier League this season.
Amorim was given the news at Carrington on Monday morning, and United’s leadership team of players were also informed of the decision. The 40-year-old was due £12million in compensation if he was sacked before November 1, although it is unclear at this stage what his severance package will be.
Amorim has been in charge at Old Trafford for 14 months during a turbulent period in which United endured their worst season in more than half a century and missed out on Europe for only the second time in 35 years. He leaves with the club in sixth place in the Premier League.
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 UEFA 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. Darren Fletcher will take charge of the team against Burnley on Wednesday.’
Amorim’s position became untenable after he took aim at his employers, and director of football Jason Wilcox in particular, over the January transfer window and what he saw as his lack of control at the club.
Amorim hinted at problems over Christmas and in his pre-match press conference on Friday, and then went a step further in an extraordinary rant at Elland Road.
He said: ‘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 my name is not [Thomas] Tuchel, it’s not [Antonio] Conte, it’s not [Jose] Mourinho, but I am the manager of Manchester United and it’s going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decide to change. That was my point and I want to finish with that. I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until other guy is coming here to replace me.
‘I just want to say that I am going to be the manager of this team, not just the coach and I was really clear on that. And 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. If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles, the criticism, everything… we need to change the club. I just want to say that.
‘I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach. In every department, the scouting department, the sporting director needs to do his job, and I will do mine for 18 months and then we move on.’
