Manchester United have abruptly terminated the contract of head coach Ruben Amorim, bringing a swift and dramatic end to his turbulent tenure at Old Trafford. The decision came less than 18 hours after the Portuguese publicly challenged the club's hierarchy following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road.
The Final Straw: A Post-Match Explosion
The club's leadership moved with remarkable speed to dismiss Amorim, a stark contrast to the 19 days it took Chelsea to sack Enzo Maresca for a similar act of insubordination in December. Amorim's fate was effectively sealed during his post-match press conference, where he delivered a series of provocative statements.
He repeatedly insisted he was "going to be manager of this team, not head coach," directly contradicting the title he was given upon his appointment. He also criticised sporting director Jason Wilcox and pointedly noted that his contract had only 18 months remaining, suggesting he would leave upon its expiry unless dismissed sooner.
Official Confirmation and Temporary Successor
The club released a terse statement confirming the departure: "Ruben Amorim has departed his role as Head Coach of Manchester United." It emphasised the now-former employee's job title and cited the team's sixth-place Premier League position as a key factor, claiming the change was made to secure the highest possible finish.
Darren Fletcher, the club's technical director, will take charge of the team for their next match against Burnley on Wednesday. The statement thanked Amorim for his contribution, but the swiftness of the action suggested his comments were the primary catalyst.
A Troubled Reign Comes to an End
Amorim's time at United was underwhelming from a results perspective. He oversaw just 24 victories from 63 games in all competitions. His relationship with sporting director Wilcox was known to be strained, and his reign included a humiliating EFL Cup exit to Grimsby Town, a match where he was famously pictured adjusting magnets on a waterlogged tactics board.
Football journalist Jamie Jackson commented on the broader mess, stating, "I don't think the hierarchy or the executive come out of this very well... Moving forward, would any big gun manager want to go there?" United are now reportedly seeking a more long-term interim coach to see out the season, with names like Oliver Glasner and Gareth Southgate already linked.
Celtic Also Swing the Axe
In a parallel development on a brutal day for managers, Celtic also terminated the contract of Wilfried Nancy. The former Columbus Crew boss was dismissed after six defeats in just eight games, including a damaging 3-1 loss to Rangers at the weekend. His departure was announced in an even blunter club statement than United's.
In other news, Chelsea are in talks with Liam Rosenior, who could be appointed in time for their derby against Fulham. Meanwhile, Gabon's government has suspended its entire national team and exiled star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following a disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
