Manchester United sack Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge

Ruben Amorim has been sacked by Manchester United, bringing an end to his 14-month spell at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese coach’s final match in charge was a 1-1 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday, a result that leaves United sixth in the Premier League after 20 matches.

Former midfielder and current Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher is expected to take charge on an interim basis, with his first game likely to be away at Burnley on Wednesday night.

A permanent appointment is not expected until the summer.

The decision was taken by the club’s leadership team, including chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, following a breakdown in relations behind the scenes.

Under the terms of the contract Amorim signed when he left Sporting CP for Manchester United in November 2024, there is no clause allowing for a discounted exit, meaning United will be required to pay out his contract in full. The deal was due to run until 2027, with the option of a further year.

Speaking after the draw at Elland Road, Amorim appeared to hint at internal tensions, stressing during his post-match press conference that he viewed himself as the “manager” of Manchester United rather than merely the “coach.”

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

Amorim faced criticism during his tenure for a perceived lack of tactical flexibility, largely due to his preference for a 3-4-3 formation. However, The Athletic reported in December that United had been trialling alternative systems in training.

Against Newcastle United on December 26, United secured a 1-0 victory while operating in a 4-2-3-1, before reverting to the 3-4-3 in a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers four days later.

Ahead of the Leeds fixture, Amorim again hinted at differences of opinion over his tactical approach, as well as challenges in signing players suited to his preferred system. He nonetheless stuck with the 3-4-3 formation for what proved to be his final game in charge.