Manchester United has dismissed head coach Ruben Amorim, confirming that the club will operate under interim leadership while preparations begin for a permanent appointment in the summer.
Manchester United has dismissed head coach Ruben Amorim, confirming that the club will operate under interim leadership while preparations begin for a permanent appointment in the summer.
Darren Fletcher has been placed in temporary charge for Wednesday’s Premier League fixture away to Burnley, with the former midfielder stepping up from his role within the club’s youth structure.
United stated that Fletcher will oversee first-team matters until a short-term replacement is formally named, as senior figures continue their search for a long-term solution.
Tensions had been building behind the scenes, culminating in a strained exchange between Amorim and director of football Jason Wilcox on Friday.
The 40-year-old reacted poorly to internal criticism surrounding his tactical approach and choice of system during a 1-1 league draw against Wolves.
Speaking publicly soon after, Amorim suggested that harmony with club executives had deteriorated and implied uncertainty over support in future recruitment plans.
Following Sunday’s 1-1 stalemate with Leeds, Amorim made further remarks that appeared to challenge the club hierarchy.
He indicated a preference to operate with broader authority rather than solely as a touchline figure and stated he was prepared to depart once his contract reached its end in 18 months.
Within a day of those comments, United confirmed that Amorim had left his post, bringing his 14-month spell to an abrupt conclusion.
In an official statement, United said the decision had been made reluctantly, despite the team occupying sixth place in the Premier League.
The club explained that a change was deemed necessary to maximise their prospects of achieving the strongest possible finish in the competition.
Amorim’s entire coaching staff has also exited, closing a chapter that began in November 2024 after United paid Sporting 11 million euros to activate his release clause.
Amorim recorded 25 victories across 63 matches, marking the briefest period served by a permanent United manager since David Moyes’ dismissal in 2014.
Despite earlier comments from co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe advocating patience and a three-year evaluation window, club sources now believe progress this season fell short of expectations.
Fletcher, 41, who won multiple honours during his playing career at Old Trafford, is set to address the media on Tuesday ahead of the Burnley encounter, despite never having previously led a senior side.
