KUALA LUMPUR – Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge.
The Portuguese coach’s final match was a 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Sunday, leaving United sixth in the Premier League after 20 games.
Former midfielder and current under-18s coach Darren Fletcher is expected to take over on an interim basis. He is set to lead the team in Wednesday night’s away game at Burnley, with a permanent managerial appointment likely to be made during the summer.
The decision was taken by the club’s leadership team, including chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, following a breakdown in relations behind the scenes.
According to the terms of the deal Amorim signed when leaving Sporting CP for United in November 2024, there is no clause allowing a discounted exit.
United will therefore be required to honour the full duration of his contract, which was due to run until 2027, with an option for an additional year as per a report by The Athletic.
During the 2025 summer transfer window, United spent over £200 million (RM1.9 billion) on new signings, including Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha, all for fees exceeding £60 million. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens also joined from Royal Antwerp in an £18.2 million deal on deadline day.
This season, United endured their worst start to a campaign since 1992-93, collecting only seven points from their opening six Premier League matches.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, United have had six permanent managers and have never finished higher than second place, a feat achieved by both Jose Mourinho (2017-18) and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (2020-21).
The club has spent more than £50 million on managerial departures since Ferguson’s exit. – January 5, 2026