Ruben Amorim’s adventure in the north of England therefore ended with a draw conceded at Elland Road, against Leeds (1-1). The next day, Monday January 5, the Portuguese was sacked by Manchester United, of which he had been coach since November 2024. Darren Fletcher, former Red Devils player and until then coach of the club’s under-18s, was appointed by his leaders to act as interim manager while awaiting the appointment of a new technician.
In a message published on its social networks, the club specifies that its shareholders, Ineos and the Glazer family, have made this decision “reluctantly”. The dismissal of Ruben Amorim, who was under contract until 2027, comes following a tense press conference at the end of the match in Leeds, during which he deemed it useful to reaffirm his authority at the head of the 20-time English champion team.
“I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not just the coachhe said. I know my name is neither [Thomas] Tatchel, who [Antonio] Conte, nor [José] Mourinho, but I am the manager of Manchester United. And it’s going to last eighteen months, or until management decides to change. » The latter’s reaction to these statements will therefore not take long to arrive.
One of the worst seasons in Manchester United history
In November 2024, the Red Devils had spent more than 10 million euros to snatch the 40-year-old coach from Sporting Portugal and make him the successor to the Dutchman Erik ten Hag. In four seasons with the Lions, Ruben Amorim had built a reputation as an extremely promising technician, winning the Portuguese league title twice (2021, 2024) and two local League Cups (2021, 2022).
But with Ruben Amorim, Manchester United experienced one of the worst seasons in its history in 2024-2025 in the Premier League, the English football championship, finishing 15th.e with just 42 points – their lowest total in the top flight since their last relegation, in 1973-1974. The club had also been eliminated from the FA Cup in the fifth round and from the Carabao Cup in the quarter-finals. This dark season ended with a final defeat, in the final of the Europa League, against Tottenham (0-1).
This setback concluded a year without a trophy for Ruben Amorim and deprived Manchester United of qualification in a European competition, a first since 2014. To try to reverse the trend, the club – among the richest in England – spent around 250 million euros during the 2025 summer transfer market, concluding several major recruitments (Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha).
An eighth coach since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson
But the 2025-2026 financial year started under bad auspices for Ruben Amorim, including a defeat in the second round of the Carabao Cup, on August 27, against Grimsby Town – a fourth division team. After this setback, the Portuguese coach apologized to the supporters of the Red Devils, whose team is still 6th in the Premier League, three points from fourth qualifying place for the Champions League, despite up-and-down results.
According to the English press, Italian technician Enzo Maresca, who has just been sacked by Chelsea, would be well placed to succeed Ruben Amorim. Other profiles, such as that of Gareth Southgate, former England coach, Xavi Hernandez, former coach of FC Barcelona, or even Oliver Glasner, who currently occupies the bench at Crystal Palace, are mentioned.
The next manager will have to be compatible with the views of Manchester United’s owners. By taking a minority stake in the club in December 2023, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, CEO of Ineos, made no secret of it. “We will decide on this style, with the CEO, the sporting director, probably the scouts, and it will be the style of Manchester United and the coach will have to play according to this style”he declared to the press. Champion of England for the last time in 2013, Manchester United are preparing to welcome an eighth coach since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson that same year. None has since succeeded in convincing over time.
