Ruben Amorim was dismissed as Manchester United head coach on Monday, becoming the seventh manager to leave since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. His departure, widely anticipated, followed a half-hearted protest about the recruitment structure after Sunday’s draw at Leeds. The club, once the biggest in the country, now finds itself enervated and frustrated, unable to secure the wins needed to climb the table.
Amorim’s cryptic post-match comments hinted at deeper discontent. “I’m going to be the manager of this team, not the coach,” he said, despite his official title being head coach. He added that every department—scouting, sporting director—must do its job, suggesting a clash over transfers with director of football Jason Wilcox. The outburst was not the sole reason for his sacking, as signs of progress had been scarce: after a promising run in October, United have won only three of 11 league games since, hovering in 15th place.
Amorim, initially dogmatic about his 3-4-2-1 formation, had recently switched to a back four, partly due to Africa Cup of Nations absences. While some called this pragmatism, it only deepened uncertainty over his methods. His reign cost the club around £430m in two transfer windows, with only £165m recouped. The heavy spending, coupled with missing out on Champions League revenue after losing the Europa League final, leaves limited funds for the next appointment.
The search for a successor raises questions: will United persist with Amorim’s system—perhaps targeting Oliver Glasner, whose contract at Crystal Palace expires this summer—or opt for a fresh approach requiring another squad overhaul? For now, the drift continues. Last season’s eighth-place finish under Erik ten Hag seemed a crisis; now, merely flirting with European qualification feels like the club’s level.
