Manchester United have terminated the contract of manager Ruben Amorim after a turbulent 14-month spell in charge at Old Trafford. The 40-year-old Portuguese coach was dismissed following a dramatic press conference and a reported complete breakdown in communications.
A Reign Defined by Rifts
Amorim's departure comes with the club sitting sixth in the Premier League table, following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United. While he managed to steady the ship after a poor start to the 2025/26 season, his time at United will be remembered for a series of high-profile and often public fallouts with members of his squad. The relationships with at least six first-team players deteriorated beyond repair, contributing significantly to the instability at the club.
High-Profile Exiles and Public Spats
The most notable conflict was with England forward Marcus Rashford. After a bright start under Amorim, the relationship soured when the manager questioned Rashford's professionalism following a nightclub incident. In early 2025, Amorim publicly stated Rashford was omitted from the team due to his training levels, famously saying he would pick a coach over the player. Rashford was subsequently loaned to Aston Villa and, despite returning in the summer, was not reintegrated, eventually joining Barcelona on another loan.
Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho also left after a personal falling out. Amorim publicly criticised Garnacho for a crucial miss in the Europa League semi-final against Athletic Club in mid-2025 and dropped him for the final. Garnacho departed for Chelsea in a £40million deal in August 2025 and has since liked social media posts celebrating Amorim's sacking.
The saga of Jadon Sancho continued under Amorim. The Portuguese coach made it clear Sancho did not fit his tactical profile based on commitment. Sancho was sold to Aston Villa in September 2025, and tensions remained so high that when Villa played United in December, Amorim refused to confirm he would shake the player's hand.
Further Disputes and the 'Bomb Squad'
Brazilian winger Antony was quickly deemed unsuitable for Amorim's system, which demanded high physical intensity. Loaned to Real Betis in January 2025, he later joined the Spanish club permanently for £22million and has claimed he felt disrespected by both the club and the manager.
Striker Rasmus Hojlund, a signing from the previous regime, was deemed surplus to requirements and loaned to Napoli in the summer of 2025. Amorim later criticised his playing style, saying he needed "intelligent runners" rather than strikers who "just wait for the ball." Hojlund has since posted pointed messages on social media, including one celebrating Napoli's Italian Super Cup win in December 2025 with the caption: "What a great decision looks like."
Even promising midfielder Kobbie Mainoo found himself marginalised, starting only one game this season—a League Cup tie against Grimsby Town. Reports suggested Amorim felt Mainoo lacked the speed for his two-man midfield. The situation became so fraught that Mainoo's brother attended a 4-4 draw with Bournemouth in December wearing a "Free Kobbie Mainoo" T-shirt.
The accumulation of these fractured relationships created a so-called 'bomb squad' of exiled players and ultimately proved unsustainable for Amorim's leadership. His dismissal on 5th January 2026 marks the end of a brief and divisive chapter at Old Trafford, leaving the club to search for its next permanent manager amidst a backdrop of dressing room discord.
