Why Manchester United Sacked Rúben Amorim

Out of nowhere, Rúben Amorim has been sacked by Manchester United. It seemed the 40-year-old Portuguese coach was finally starting to make things work at Old Trafford — but clearly, the issue wasn’t just about results.

Amorim leaves United in the Premier League’s top six, right in the race for the Champions League spots. Given England’s high UEFA coefficient, the Premier League is almost certain to earn a fifth place in next season’s competition. Yes, 32 points from 21 matches doesn’t sound like much, but this season has been chaotic for almost everyone — except Arsenal, Manchester City, and Aston Villa.

United actually looked sharp in several big games, beating Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Crystal Palace. However, they dropped far too many points against relegation candidates. Amorim’s final two games — draws against 20th-placed Wolves and 16th-placed Leeds — summed up the inconsistency.

Despite the mixed results, United fans had started to calm down by the end of 2025. The team showed some signs of stability and a clearer footballing identity.

More than that, Amorim finally demonstrated tactical flexibility in England. Against Newcastle on December 26, he abandoned his trademark 3-4-2-1 system for a back four. The result? A 1-0 victory and praise from fans and pundits alike.

That switch was forced by a crisis of available players, and yet four days later — with those problems still unresolved — Amorim reverted to his original setup. The criticism came instantly.

«He’s just not good enough to manage Manchester United,» fumed former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher. «With a back four, he finally had something that worked, but against Wolves he went back to five at the back — and it was possibly their worst performance of the season.»

The hierarchy at Old Trafford also grew frustrated with Amorim’s stubbornness. British outlets reported that the relationship between Amorim and sporting director Jason Wilcox completely broke down after the Leeds match. Allegedly, Wilcox pushed for a formation change that the Portuguese coach politely listened to — only to ignore soon after.

Amorim, of course, had his own grievances. He expected United’s executives to strengthen the squad during the January transfer window, especially with injuries and several key players departing for the Africa Cup of Nations — including Bryan Mbeumo.

But Wilcox made it clear in late December that there would be no major signings. He also told Amorim the club would not part ways with academy star Kobbie Mainoo, whom the coach had largely frozen out. «You already have a quality midfielder,» Wilcox reportedly said. «Develop him — don’t sell him because of your preferences.»

Before the Wolves match, Amorim publicly admitted at a press conference that there would be no winter signings because “there’s no alignment with Jason Wilcox.” He became visibly irritated when the questions turned back to transfers.

It culminated in a furious post-match statement after the Leeds draw:

«I came to Manchester United to be a manager, not just a coach! I don’t want to discuss finances, but the situation isn’t favorable. Apparently, the club doesn’t want to buy top-class players. The scouts, the sporting director — everyone must do their jobs.»

That open criticism was the final straw. After publicly challenging his employers, Amorim’s fate was sealed. Essentially, he was demanding the kind of authority once held by Sir Alex Ferguson.

Wayne Rooney — a true United legend — offered one of the most balanced takes on the situation:

«I’m baffled by what he said. You have to earn the right to make demands — especially at Manchester United. If Guardiola was the manager, no one would question his transfer choices or his tactics. Still, I do feel for Amorim — the squad simply isn’t good enough.»

Statistically, Amorim leaves as one of the least successful United managers of the modern Premier League era. Under his leadership, the club won just 31.1% of league games — 15 wins, 13 draws, and 19 defeats.

For now, the interim role has gone to Darren Fletcher, the former United midfielder and ex-youth coach. The 41-year-old Scot is expected to take charge until the end of the season.

Published by Patrick Jane
08.01.2026