Manchester United fans woke up to shocking news on Thursday as the club confirmed the sacking of manager Ruben Amorim.
The Portuguese coach, 40, leaves Old Trafford after just 14 months in charge, following a dramatic attack on the club’s board.
Amorim’s exit comes after a 1-1 draw against Leeds United, a result that plunged his already fragile position into deeper doubt.
In his post-match press conference, Amorim did not hold back. He demanded to be called a “manager” rather than a “head coach” and criticized the club’s transfer policies, including a failed move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo.
“I won’t quit,” he said, “but I need more control over transfers if we are to succeed.”
Despite his protests, the decision was taken out of his hands. Club chiefs moved swiftly, informing Amorim of his immediate dismissal, with former midfielder Darren Fletcher expected to step in as interim manager.
Amorim’s record at United is among the worst in club history. He won just 24 of 63 matches, a win percentage of 38.71%. No manager has fared worse since Frank O’Farrell, who managed only 30 wins in 81 matches in 1971.
His 14 months at the club have been filled with disappointment. Last season, he guided United to a 15th-place finish in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
Defensive problems plagued his tenure. United went 15 games without a clean sheet on the road, the worst streak in the club’s history.
Amorim also struggled to make his preferred 3-4-3 system work, admitting recently that the formation could not succeed without “a lot of money.”
Consistency was another issue. United only won consecutive games once under his tenure, during a five-game unbeaten streak in October.
The manager was often outspoken in his press conferences. In August, he revealed he sometimes “hates” his players and at times felt like quitting, following a shock Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town.
His relationship with the club’s board, especially director of football Jason Wilcox, was also under strain. A failed transfer for Antoine Semenyo led to a thinly veiled public criticism.
Fans and pundits alike criticized his stubbornness over tactics and player selection. Despite flashes of improvement this season, the team’s defensive weaknesses and lack of cohesion remained glaring issues.
Amorim’s demands for more power and control over transfers created tension at a club already grappling with high expectations.
“The head coach wants to be called manager. He wants more say in transfers,” a club source told The Athletic. “The board decided it’s time to act.”
Darren Fletcher, a former United midfielder and respected figure at Old Trafford, is expected to take temporary charge while the club searches for a permanent replacement.
Amorim’s sacking is a warning that even high-profile managers at elite clubs are not immune to rapid fallouts if results and relationships falter.
The Portuguese coach leaves behind a turbulent legacy – flashes of tactical ambition but ultimately disappointment and disruption.
Manchester United now face the challenge of rebuilding morale, improving defensive weaknesses, and making crucial transfer decisions in the January window.
For fans, the shock news raises questions about the club’s long-term strategy and the stability of Old Trafford’s leadership.
The full story is still developing, but one thing is clear: Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United will be remembered as one of the most chaotic in the club’s modern history.
