Manchester United have announced the departure of head coach Ruben Amorim with immediate effect, bringing an end to the Portuguese coach’s 14-month spell at Old Trafford.
The 40-year-old succeeded Erik ten Hag last year but departs with the club sitting sixth in the Premier League following Sunday’s 1-1 draw away to Leeds United.
In a statement released on Monday morning, United 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 and wishes him well for the future.”
Former United midfielder Darren Fletcher will take charge on an interim basis, starting with Wednesday’s league fixture against Burnley.
Amorim’s exit comes less than 24 hours after a tense post-match press conference at Elland Road, where he cut a frustrated figure and made pointed remarks about his role, stating his expectation of being “the manager, not a coach”.
United’s league form this season has been mixed. From their first 20 Premier League matches, they recorded eight wins, seven draws and five defeats, a win percentage of 40 per cent. They were also eliminated from the EFL Cup in the second round by League Two side Grimsby Town.
Across his time in charge, Amorim collected 58 points from 47 league matches, with a goal difference of minus six. Since his appointment, United rank 14th in the Premier League points table over that period, with Arsenal leading the way on 103 points.
Amorim’s first season ended with a 15th-place finish and defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League final, a result that left United without European football for the 2025/26 campaign.
Despite significant summer investment — including the arrivals of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko in attack, alongside left-back Diego Leon and goalkeeper Senne Lammens — performances failed to improve consistently.
Fletcher, who has been overseeing the club’s Under-18 side this season, now steps into the role on an interim basis. His twin sons, Jack and Tyler, are both part of the first-team squad and were unused substitutes in Leeds on Sunday.
He becomes the fifth former Sir Alex Ferguson player to serve as United’s interim manager, following Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Photo by Agencia LUSA, Wikimedia commons.