In a decisive move signaling a new direction, Manchester United has terminated the contract of manager Ruben Amorim, concluding his turbulent 14-month tenure at Old Trafford. The club’s leadership announced the departure on Monday, characterizing it as a reluctant but necessary step to maximize the team’s potential for the remainder of the Premier League season.
The decision follows a period of escalating tension, which culminated in a fiery post-match press conference after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United. An evidently frustrated Amorim used the platform to publicly delineate his role, asserting he was the ‘manager’ and not merely a ‘coach,’ while issuing a pointed directive for the scouting department and sporting director ‘to do their job.’ This outburst highlighted the growing friction between the coaching staff and the club’s hierarchy over transfer strategy and internal operations, a point Amorim had alluded to in the days leading up to the match.
Amorim’s time in Manchester was a tale of contrasting fortunes. Appointed in November 2024, he successfully guided the squad to the Europa League final in Bilbao last May, though they were ultimately defeated by Tottenham Hotspur. However, this European campaign was starkly overshadowed by a disastrous domestic performance that saw the historic club finish a dismal 15th in the Premier League last season. The current campaign has offered little respite, with the team languishing in sixth place, prompting the board to act in pursuit of a ‘highest possible finish.’