Manchester United sack manager Ruben Amorim, Darren Fletcher to take interim charge
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Former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim during their 1-1 English Premier League draw against Leeds United on Jan 4. He was sacked on Jan 5.
PHOTO: EPA
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LONDON – English Premier League giants Manchester United have fired their manager Ruben Amorim, the club announced on Jan 5.
In a statement, the club said: “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.”
United also confirmed that former player and current Under-18s manager Darren Fletcher will take charge of the Red Devils for their Premier League away match against Burnley on Jan 7.
The Athletic reported that Fletcher is likely to take interim charge until the end of the 2025-26 season, with a permanent replacement likely in the summer.
Amorim arrived at Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon in November 2024
The Portuguese, 40, appeared to hit out at the club’s hierarchy after the 1-1 Premier League draw against Leeds United on Jan 4
Over the summer, the club spent a reported €250.7 million (S$376.7 million) on new players, adding to their already high debt levels. Only €74.2 million was recouped from the sale of players, led by the departure of Alejandro Garnacho.
Former United captain Rio Ferdinand expressed surprise on his YouTube channel, saying: “I didn’t anticipate this when I woke up this morning that Ruben Amorim will be one of the guys getting the sack.
“He wouldn’t have been my first three, four or five people to get sacked in the league. But when you look at his record in black and white, I’m not surprised.”
Amorim raised doubts about his long-term United future in a spiky press conference on Jan 4 at Elland Road that hinted at rifts behind the scenes at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese boss had alluded to his growing frustration in the build-up to the Leeds match when he refused to clarify his recent comments about the club’s transfer plans.
He was more forthcoming when asked on Jan 4 if he still felt he had confidence from the board.
“Guys, to start with that, and I noticed that you receive selective information about everything, I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United,” Amorim said. “And that is clear.
“I know that my name is not (Thomas) Tuchel, it’s not (Antonio) Conte, it’s not (Jose) Mourinho, but I’m the manager of Manchester United.
“And it’s going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decides to change, so that was my point.
“I want to finish with that. I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me.”
After suggesting he arrived at United as a manager with full authority and not merely a coach taking orders, he turned his ire at others at Old Trafford.
“If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticisms of everything, we need to change the club,” he said, referring to the former United defender, who has been a constant critic of Amorim’s tactical inflexibility as he remained wedded to his back-three and back-five formations.
“Every department – the scouting department, the sporting director – need to do their job.”
Reports recently claimed United’s head of recruitment Christopher Vivell told Amorim to adapt his tactics after a detailed explanation by Fulham boss Marco Silva of his plans to counter it when the sides drew last August
Amorim took over from Erik ten Hag in November 2024, ending his first season with United finishing 15th in the Premier League – their lowest placing in the top flight since the 1973-74 season when they were relegated – and losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.
He won just 24 of his 63 games (38.1 per cent) in charge in all competitions, the worst rate of any United boss since the retirement of Alex Ferguson in 2013, aside from Ralf Rangnick’s 37.9 per cent in half a season as interim manager during the 2021-22 season.
The Portuguese’s average of 1.23 points per game is the worst of any Red Devils manager in the Premier League era.
Amorim also lost just over a third of his matches overall, the worst record of any permanent United boss since Frank O’Farrell in the 1970s.
The longest winning run he oversaw was three matches, which happened only twice during his tenure.
Since Ferguson’s exit, United have turned to David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, and ten Hag with limited success as the Red Devils have yet to win the Premier League since clinching their 20th title back in 2012-13.
AFP, REUTERS, BLOOMBERG
