Manchester United have parted ways with head coach Ruben Amorim just 14 months after bringing him in from Sporting Lisbon, ending a spell marked by frustration, poor results, and growing tension behind the scenes.
The 40-year-old Portuguese tactician arrived at Old Trafford in November 2024 with high hopes, signed on a deal running until 2027. Many saw him as the man to steady the ship after Erik ten Hag's exit.
But things quickly soured. Last season ended in disappointment with United's worst-ever Premier League finish—15th place—and a heartbreaking defeat in the Europa League final.
This campaign hasn't brought much relief. The Red Devils sit sixth in the table, but a run of just three wins in their last 11 games piled on the pressure. The final straw came after Sunday's 1-1 draw at Leeds United. In a fiery post-match press conference, Amorim lashed out, insisting he came to be the "manager" of Manchester United, not just a "head coach." He took aim at the hierarchy, including director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, over limited control on transfers and tactics.
Amorim even suggested he'd see out his contract—about 18 months left—and then "everyone moves on."Club sources say relations had broken down badly, especially around January transfer plans.
Amorim wanted backing for his preferred 3-4-3 system, but the board hesitated, worried about long-term fit under a potential next boss. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the leadership team decided a change was needed now to push for a stronger league finish.
In a brief statement, United said: "Ruben Amorim has departed his role as Head Coach. 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 and wishes him well for the future."Former midfielder and current Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher will step in on an interim basis, starting with Wednesday's trip to Burnley. No permanent replacement is expected before summer, leaving fans wondering who's next in United's ongoing managerial merry-go-round—the sixth change since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Amorim's stubborn loyalty to his system drew criticism from pundits like Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, who felt it didn't suit United's traditions or squad. Yet the bigger issue seems to be the power struggle at the top. For a club chasing glory again, this feels like another setback in a long rebuild.
Post a Comment