Manchester United sack Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge following a 1-1 draw with Leeds, with Darren Fletcher set to lead against Burnley.
Manchester United have sacked head coach Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge, ending a turbulent spell defined by strained relationships and inconsistent results. The decision was confirmed less than 24 hours after Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw away to Leeds United. United said the move was made “reluctantly” but felt it was the right time to change direction. The club currently sit sixth in the table.
Former midfielder Darren Fletcher will take charge for Wednesday’s league game against Burnley. United plan to appoint a caretaker manager for the remainder of the season. A permanent successor is expected to be named in the summer. Amorim’s entire coaching staff have also departed Old Trafford.
Amorim’s position had become increasingly fragile in recent weeks. A hostile meeting with director of football Jason Wilcox on Friday proved a major turning point. The discussion focused on tactics and the lack of evolution away from a three-man defence. Sources say Amorim reacted negatively to the feedback.
That tension spilled into public view after the Leeds draw. Amorim stated he wanted to work as a “manager, not the coach” and questioned support from senior figures. Those comments followed earlier hints that he would not be fully backed in the transfer market. By Monday morning, the club had decided his position was untenable.
United’s numbers under Amorim weighed heavily against him. He won 25 of his 63 matches in all competitions. In the Premier League, he managed 15 wins from 47 games, a win ratio of 31.9 percent. That is the lowest of any permanent United manager in the competition.
Defensive issues persisted throughout his tenure. United conceded 72 league goals under Amorim, an average of 1.53 per game. Only three teams shipped more in that period. His side kept just seven clean sheets, a rate of 14.9 percent.
Despite spending £216m in the summer on players including Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha, progress stalled. United won only three of their last 11 league games. They were held by Wolves, West Ham and Leeds, all sides near the bottom.
Amorim’s insistence on a three-man defence became a recurring flashpoint. He reverted to it against Wolves days after switching to a back four against Newcastle. That decision was viewed negatively inside the club. Fans booed the team off after the Wolves draw.
His public criticism of players and the academy also caused friction. Amorim never watched age group matches and made dismissive comments about youngsters. Calling his squad “maybe the worst” in the club’s history further damaged morale. By the time United were held at Elland Road, patience had run out.
Fletcher will lead the team at Burnley on Wednesday, his first senior coaching assignment. The 41-year-old previously served as technical director and is currently under 18s head coach. He won five Premier League titles and the Champions League as a United player.
United will then turn attention to the FA Cup third round against Brighton on Sunday before facing bitter cross-city rivals Manchester City on 17thJanuary in the Premier League. The club hope to have found a suitable replacement by then and that stability off the pitch can spark an upturn in form. Amorim leaves with United sixth, but with belief inside Old Trafford that the squad can achieve more.
