Man United sack Ruben Amorim

 

Man United sack Ruben Amorim following his bombshell attack on the board.

The Portuguese manager hit out at Old Trafford chiefs after the 1-1 draw against Leeds United.

 

Leeds, UK. 04th Jan, 2026. Manchester United Manager Head Coach Ruben Amorim during the Leeds United v Manchester United Premier League match at Elland Road, Leeds, England on 4 January 2026 Credit: Phil Duncan/Every Second Media Credit: Every Second
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Ruben Amorim has been sacked by Manchester UnitedCredit: Alamy

Darren Fletcher is expected to take charge on an interim basisCredit: Alamy

Amorim, 40, leaves the club after a shambolic 14 months on and off the pitch.

He has won just 24 of his 63 matches in charge of United, which puts his win percentage at 38.71 per cent.

No manager of United has had a worse record since Frank O’Farrell, who was sacked in 1971.

He won just 30 of his 81 matches, giving him a 37.04 win percentage.

 

The Athletic reported that he was informed of the club’s decision to ace him and left with “immediate effect”.

The report claims that former midfielder Darren Fletcher is expected to take charge on an interim basis.

Amorim plunged his position into doubt as he made an astonishing rant in his post-match press conference.

He complained about his “head coach” title and insisted he be referred to as the “manager”.

 

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He also aimed a thinly-veiled jibe at director of football Jason Wilcox after a move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo failed to materialise.

Amorim promised he would not quit but demanded more control amid a transfer window stand-off.

However, the Red Devils as the decision has been taken out of his hands.

Old Trafford chiefs have swung the axe and sacked the former Sporting Lisbon boss.

Last season, he lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur and could only guide the club to 15th in the Premier League.
Amorim was never able to solve the team’s defensive woes despite improved results this season.

Amorim’s signings at United

THE transfer business by Ruben Amorim since his arrival at Manchester United…

Ayden Heaven, undisclosed fee from Arsenal
Patrick Dorgu, £25million from Lecce
Diego Leon, £7million from Cerro Porteno
Matheus Cunha, £62.5million from Wolves
Bryan Mbeumo, £71million from Brentford
Benjamin Sesko, £74million from RB Leipzig
Senne Lammens, £18.2million from Royal Antwerp
Amorim’s record at United

Here is a look at Ruben Amorim’s record as Manchester United manager…

Games: 63
Wins: 24
Draws: 18
Losses: 21
Win rate: 38.10%
Goals scored: 122
Goals conceded: 114
Brenden Aaronson‘s goal at Elland Road meant United had gone 15 games without a clean sheet on the road.

This is the worst run the club has ever had.

Since Amorim took charge, United have only won consecutive games on one occasion.

That occurred, then they won three in a row in a five-game unbeaten streak in October.

 

He has also come under fire for his stubbornness over the use of his beloved 3-4-3 system.

It was only recently that he finally admitted that the formation would not work unless the club spent “a lot of money”.

Amorim has often spoken out during his press conferences.

In August, he claimed that he sometimes “hates” his players and that he would on occasion want “to quit”.

 

Those comments followed the club’s abysmal shock exit in the Carabao Cup to Grimsby Town.

 

Ratcliffe’s perceived “heated chat” with Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada after the 4-1 win at Molineux on December 8 largely went under the radar.

The trio were pictured in an animated discussion immediately after Wolves scored their equalising goal just after half-time.

United then lost Amad, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui to Afcon after the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth and skipper Bruno Fernandes limped off in the defeat at Villa Park.

Amorim then laid down his first marker by admitting he may not get the money necessary to perfect his 3-4-3 in his Christmas eve pre-match conference ahead of the Toon’s visit.

Speaking after the 1-0 win over Newcastle, Amorim then made an interesting comment on failing to reach common ground with transfer boss Wilcox.

He said: “I have one idea, Jason and board have another idea – every decision that we make, we need to reach a common ground, that is really important.

“Because you don’t need to make everything for the manager because the manager can change and you need to change everything but the manager understands the way of playing.”

Amorim then walked in with a huge frown on his face on Friday January 2 at Carrington.

It was the grouchiest this reporter has ever seen Amorim, who before that walked into pre-match conferences with a smile on his face and regular jovial quips for the room.

He then uncharacteristically point-blank refused to answer a question and gave short, pointed replies to others.

Amorim was asked to explain why he did not know the position around recruitment when he joined United from Sporting in November 2024.

“I don’t want to talk about that,” he said. “I just focus on the Leeds game.”

Amorim then said he did not regret his comments prior to the Newcastle match before being asked again, by the same journalist, if something had changed in relation to the transfer budget. Once more, he replied: “I don’t want to talk about that.”

Then, after a brief pause, and after the United media official sitting next to Amorim at the press conference had begun to say who would ask the next question, the Portuguese added: “But you are very smart, so…”

Then came the extraordinary rant at Leeds two days later.

A recent report claimed Christopher Vivell, United’s head of recruitment, called on Amorim to adapt his system after a particularly detailed explanation by Fulham boss Marco Silva of his plan to counter it following the 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage in August.

While United officials have tried to create a picture of harmony, their words are being tested by Amorim.

He clearly thinks the parameters of the job he was sold have changed.