Manchester United have parted ways with head coach Ruben Amorim, ending a turbulent 14-month tenure marked by tactical stubbornness and a spectacular public fallout with the club's hierarchy.
The Final Straw: A Meeting That Sparked the End
The beginning of the end came on Friday, 2 January 2026, during a feedback meeting with football director Jason Wilcox. Amorim reacted explosively to the critique, unaware that Wilcox had been his final defender within the Old Trafford structure. This confrontation set off a chain of events leading to his dismissal on Monday, 5 January.
Matters came to a head publicly during a remarkable press conference at Elland Road on Sunday, following a 1-1 draw with promoted Leeds. Amorim launched into a rant, stating that others at the club needed to "do their job." United, who view the head coach as part of a wider structure, saw this as the culmination of a deteriorating relationship.
Tactical Inflexibility and Missed Targets
The core of the dispute centred on Amorim's unwavering commitment to a 3-4-3 formation. After a poor start to the season, United believed they had secured progress by persuading him to switch to a back four. This change yielded a 4-4 draw with Bournemouth and a 1-0 win over Newcastle, their second clean sheet of the campaign.
However, Amorim reverted to a back three for the match against Wolverhampton Wanderers just before meeting Wilcox. The team failed to beat the winless side, were outmanoeuvred in midfield, and offered little attacking threat. This proved a major turning point for the United board, coming amidst a run of just three wins in 11 games.
Frustrations also extended to the transfer market. Despite the club backing him with £250m in signings during his reign, including a £200m outlay on three forwards last summer, Amorim was publicly critical of January business. He had wanted Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal, over Benjamin Sesko, who scored only twice. His top January target was Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, despite a glaring need for midfield reinforcements.
Aftermath and a Flawed Appointment
Chief executive Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox delivered the news of his sacking on Monday morning at the Carrington training ground. Darren Fletcher has been named as temporary successor while the club searches for a permanent manager, with no approaches made yet.
The internal view at United is that a manager who secured only 58 points from 47 Premier League games received enormous support. They believe the tools for success were provided, but Amorim's inability to adapt or take advice doomed the project. The club's decision-making in appointing him after a 15th-place finish—their lowest in half a century—now looks fundamentally flawed. The demand for his successor will be to produce more exciting, entertaining football, regardless of the formation employed.
