Manchester United sack Amorim after 14-month tenure

Ruben Amorim has been sacked as Manchester United manager, bringing an abrupt end to his turbulent 14-month spell in charge, the club confirmed on January 5.

The decision came a day after the Portuguese coach publicly defended his position and insisted he would not resign following a disappointing 1-1 Premier League draw with Leeds United. United said the move was made in the belief that a change was necessary to improve their prospects for the remainder of the season, Reuters reports. 

“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 said in a statement.

Amorim, 40, was appointed in November 2024 to replace Erik ten Hag. His first season ended with United finishing 15th in the Premier League — their lowest position since relegation in 1974 — and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

This season, United are sixth after 20 matches, 17 points behind leaders Arsenal. A run of just three wins in their last 11 league games increased pressure on Amorim, with the draw against Leeds prompting a rare and defiant press conference from the usually mild-mannered coach.

Responding to questions about his future, Amorim pushed back strongly against criticism, including from former United defender and television pundit Gary Neville, who has questioned the manager’s tactical rigidity and continued use of a three- or five-man defence.

“If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticisms of everything, we need to change the club,” Amorim said. “I just want to say I came here to be the manager, not to be the coach. In every department - the scouting department, the sporting director – need to do their job.

Since Ferguson retired in 2013, United have appointed David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, and Erik ten Hag, with limited success. It is now 13 years since the club last won the Premier League title, the most recent of their record 20 championships.

By Sabina Mammadli