Manchester United have sacked head coach Ruben Amorim after a dramatic breakdown in relations with the club’s leadership team.
Amorim made an explosive statement to the United board after the 1-1 draw at Leeds on Sunday, suggesting he would be leaving in 18 months, with the club currently sixth in the Premier League table after 20 games.
But Amorim has now officially been sacked by United after 14 months in charge of the club with U18s coach Darren Fletcher taking charge on an interim basis.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, meanwhile, is the bookies’ current favourite to become the Red Devils’ next permanent manager.
‘Ruben Amorim has departed his role as Head Coach of Manchester United,’ the club said in a statement on Monday.
‘Ruben was appointed in November 2024 and led the team to a UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao in May.
‘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.
Who will replace Ruben Amorim at Man Utd?
The latest odds from Betfair…
- Oliver Glasner – 7/2
- Gareth Southgate – 5/1
- Mauricio Pochettino – 15/2
- Unai Emery – 9/1
- Xavi – 9/1
- Andoni Iraola – 9/1
The Athletic reports that a permanent appointment is likely to wait until the summer, meaning U18s coach Darren Fletcher could be in charge as interim boss until the end of the 2025-26 season.
‘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 to the club and wishes him well for the future.
‘Darren Fletcher will take charge of the team against Burnley on Wednesday.’
There was plenty of hype around Amorim when he replaced Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford in November 2024 as he arrived at the club from Sporting CP.
But Amorim was unable to turn around United’s disastrous 2024-25 campaign as they ended up 15th in the top-flight at the end of the season without a trophy and failing to qualify for any form of European football.
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United have looked a lot stronger this term but after a breakdown in relations behind the scenes with chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, the club have decided to part ways with Amorim.
Amorim’s contract as head coach was set to run until 2027 with the option of a further year and it’s understood United will have to pay up in full.
The 40-year-old Portuguese head coach, who led United to the Europa League final last season, hinted at tensions between himself and the club’s leadership team after the 1-1 draw with rivals Leeds on Sunday.
‘I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United,’ Amorim said. ‘That is clear.
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‘I know that my name is not Tuchel, is not Conte, is not Mourinho, but I’m the manager of Manchester United. It’s going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decided to change.
‘That was my point. I want to finish with that. I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until other guy is coming here to replace me.’
He then suggested he intended to move on at the end of the 2026-27 season when his contract was set to end, saying: ‘I just want to say that I’m going to be the manager of this team, not just the coach. I was really clear on that.
‘That is going to finish in 18 months, and then everyone is going to move on. That was the deal. That is my job, not to be a coach.
‘If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticism of everything, we need to change the club. No, no guys, I would say that I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach.
‘Every department, the scouting department, the sport director needs to do their job. I will do mine for 18 months and then we move on. Thank you, guys.’