Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim after 14 months as head coach, following a power struggle over transfer policy. The 40-year-old was dismissed on Monday morning, with Darren Fletcher appointed as interim head coach for Wednesday's match at Burnley and potentially Sunday's FA Cup tie with Brighton.
The club is yet to decide whether to appoint a permanent replacement for the remainder of the season or wait until the summer. The process will be led by director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada. Candidates include Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner, Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, and the unemployed Enzo Maresca, while Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, and Mauricio Pochettino are considered outside prospects.
Amorim's departure stems from his frustration with the hierarchy's control over football policy. He demanded recruitment colleagues 'do their job' after Sunday's draw at Leeds, and described himself as a 'manager' rather than a 'coach'. The club, however, insisted it fully backed him, pointing to £250m spent since his appointment in November 2024.
United's statement 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.' Amorim oversaw the club's lowest Premier League finish last season and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham.
