Ruben Amorim sacked as Manchester United manager amid club turmoil

Manchester United have dismissed Ruben Amorim following a disappointing season that culminated in a 1-1 draw against Leeds. Amorim publicly criticized the club's ownership and sporting direction for lacking support and denying him full control over transfers, which he claimed hampered efforts to stabilize the team. Currently languishing in sixth place, Manchester United is at risk of missing out on the Champions League, trailing closely behind several competitors.

Amorim was appointed in November 2024 on a contract running until June 2027 with high expectations, but his time at the club was complicated from the start. The club paid a €10 million transfer fee to Sporting Lisbon instead of promoting assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was favored by the players. His demand for 12 new signings, estimated to require an investment of €500 million, was deemed financially unrealistic by the club's ownership, despite nearly €300 million already spent on players during his tenure.

Sources indicate Amorim never gained strong backing from management or players. He openly blamed Sporting’s CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox for the club's internal crisis. His departure marks the seventh permanent managerial change at United since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, reflecting ongoing instability that has stymied the club's bid to regain its former dominance lost to rivals Manchester City since 2016.

Darren Fletcher is expected to take interim charge for the upcoming match against Burnley as United begins its search for a new full-time manager.