Ruben Amorim has been sacked as Manchester United’s head coach with immediate effect following his outspoken rant at club bosses after Sunday’s draw at Leeds.
Daily Mail Sport understands that the decision to dismiss Amorim was taken by the United hierarchy on Friday, two days before the trip to Elland Road.
The verdict followed a meeting between Amorim and United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, held after last Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against bottom-placed Wolves – a match in which Amorim reverted to his preferred system of three central defenders.
According to sources, Amorim was told that United’s squad, bolstered by £250million of summer recruitment, were good enough to earn trust and that they were capable of playing more attacking football.
However, it would appear that the message failed to hit home and, indeed was met with a furious response from the Portuguese boss.
Former United midfielder and current Under 18s coach Darren Fletcher has been installed as caretaker manager for Wednesday’s trip to Burnley.
The Portuguese international’s final game in charge was the 1-1 draw against Leeds on Sunday that leaves them sixth in the Premier League this season
Ruben Amorim was blasted across social media after footage emerged of him using coaching magnets in the dugout during Manchester United’s defeat to Grimsby earlier this season
Former United midfielder and current Under 18s coach Darren Fletcher (left) has been installed as caretaker manager for Wednesday’s trip to Burnley
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.
The Portuguese boss arrived at United in November 2024 from Sporting Lisbon but his poor record has seen him become a figure of mockery, topped when the footage emerged of him using coaching magnets in the dugout during United’s defeat by Grimsby Town in the second round of the Carabao Cup in August.
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.’
Following Amorim’s post-Leeds outburst, United officials felt like they had been backed into a corner and were left with no alternative
It seems that Amorim was still in the dark about the decision to release him of his services following the draw at Elland Road on Sunday, but a rift between himself and the United hierarchy was clear in his post-match comments.
Speaking after match, Amorim 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.’
Since the arrival of Ineos, United have spent significant sums on bringing in what they view as elite expertise in areas such as recruitment and data analysis and that while the head coach is a hugely important role, it does not sit above all else.
Amorim had also hinted at a lack of backing in the current window. However, the club’s only realistic target was Antoine Semenyo, who is set to join rivals City. While there is room to do business, United had targeted the summer for their next major recruitment push and the manager was on board with those plans, according to sources.
Indeed, the arrival of the three forward players in Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo for £250million and not a midfielder in the summer was also something that had been given approval from the dugout.
It’s understood that the United hierarchy feel there has not been enough evolution or progress under Amorim despite spending £250m on players during his time in charge
Amorim was summoned to Carrington on Monday morning and given the news in a meeting with Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada. The decision was made with the full backing of the board and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
United expect Darren Fletcher to be in charge for at least the next two matches, a midweek trip to Burnley and the FA Cup visit of Brighton and Hove Albion.
They are currently not looking beyond that, but a host of top name managers such as Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti will not be available until after the World Cup. The prospect of throwing a new manager into the Manchester derby, a week on Saturday, is not thought to be favoured.
Despite concerns that the squad assembled under Amorim is geared towards his 3-4-2-1 system, insiders maintain that it is flexible enough to adapt under a new coach, and the decision to sack him has been made to give the team the best chance of qualifying for Europe this season.
