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Ruben Amorim, who joined Manchester United last year in November as the head coach, has been sacked today following the disappointing draw against Leeds United. He is the 10th Man United manager who has been sacked since Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United.
Manchester United released an official statement on Ruben Amorim’s departure. “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 statement reads.
The club also confirms, “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.”
A 14-Month Rollercoaster
Amorim arrived from Sporting CP in November 2024 to significant fanfare, hailed as one of Europe’s brightest young tactical minds. He was tasked with cleaning up the remnants of the Erik ten Hag era and implementing his trademark 3-4-2-1 system.
His tenure was defined by extreme highs and lows:
- The Europa League Run: His greatest success came in May 2025, when he led United to the UEFA Europa League final in Bilbao. Although they lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur, the run provided a glimpse of the tactical discipline Amorim was capable of instilling.
- The 15th-Place Finish: Domestically, his first half-season was a disaster. United finished the 2024/25 campaign in 15th place, their lowest league finish since the 1989/90 season. While Amorim was granted “grace” due to inheriting a fractured squad, the pressure never truly dissipated.
- Current Standing: At the time of his sacking, United sit 6th in the Premier League with 31 points from 19 games—17 points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Manchester United played 63 games under Amorim’s management. But the success rate is below average as the Red Devils only won 24 of those matches, while they lost 22 games. This is the worst winning rate (38.1%) of any United manager since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, aside from Ralf Rangnick’s 37.9 per cent in half a season as interim manager.
Who’s the Next?
The search for a permanent successor is already underway. While Darren Fletcher provides a steady hand in the short term, bookmakers and insiders have quickly identified a shortlist of potential candidates to lead the “latest rebuild”:
- Enzo Maresca: Currently the bookies’ favorite, Maresca is admired for his tactical clarity.
- Oliver Glasner: The Crystal Palace boss is seen as a “perfect fit” because he already utilizes the 3-4-2-1 formation Amorim spent 14 months trying to implement.
- Zinedine Zidane: As is tradition, the Frenchman’s name is being linked, though he remains a long shot.
- Gareth Southgate: Still frequently mentioned in connection with the INEOS project.
Ruben Amorim’s exit marks the latest chapter in Manchester United’s decade-long struggle to find a worthy heir to Sir Alex Ferguson. While Amorim brought tactical intrigue and a brief European final appearance, his tenure will likely be remembered for the explosive way it ended—a manager refusing to be just a coach in a club determined to move away from the all-powerful managerial model. For now, the spotlight shifts to Darren Fletcher and the daunting task of hosting Manchester City in the league later this month.
