Ruben Amorim Sacked By Man Utd as Immediate Replacement Named

Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim as head coach after 14 months in charge.

The Portuguese boss will leave the club following Sunday's 1-1 draw at Leeds, which leaves United in sixth place in the Premier League.

Under-18 coach Darren Fletcher will take temporary charge while the club search for a replacement.

Amorim leaves United having won 24 of his 63 matches in charge of the club - the third-lowest of any permanent manager in the club's history.

The former Sporting boss had hinted at significant tensions between himself and the club's footballing hierarchy in his post-match press conference after the Leeds draw.

Amorim stated that he had joined United to be 'a manager, not a coach', and suggested he would leave Old Trafford at the end of his contract in 2027.

"I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach!" | Ruben Amorim pic.twitter.com/gteKinpw3Y

— BeanymanSports (@BeanymanSports) January 4, 2026

His exit has instead been brought forward 18 months early, with The Athletic reporting that the decision was made to sack Amorim after a 'breakdown in relations behind the scenes'.

Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are both named as being part of the decision-making process.

Significantly, it is added that United will have to pay compensation in full to Amorim as part of the contract he signed in November 2024.

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That will come as another major blow to minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with the club forced to pay former manager Erik ten Hag and his staff a huge reported sum of £14.5 million after giving him a new contract and then sacking him months later.

Man Utd statement on Ruben Amorim sacking

Shortly after initial reports surrounding Amorim's sacking, United released a statement confirming his departure.

It reads: "Ruben Amorim has departed his role as Head Coach of Manchester United.

"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 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."