Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim after 14 months as head coach, with the club citing a lack of progress and a power struggle over transfer policy. The decision was announced on Monday following Sunday’s draw at Leeds, which left United sixth in the Premier League.
Darren Fletcher, the under-18s coach and former United midfielder, has been appointed interim head coach. He will lead the team at Burnley on Wednesday and could remain in charge for Sunday’s FA Cup tie with Brighton. The club has yet to decide whether to appoint a permanent successor for the rest of the season or wait until the summer.
Among the candidates for the permanent role are Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, and unemployed Enzo Maresca. Thomas Tuchel, now England manager, is considered an outside prospect due to his World Cup commitments. Gareth Southgate, Mauricio Pochettino, and Xavi have also been mentioned, though Xavi’s limited English may rule him out.
Amorim’s departure follows a strained relationship with the hierarchy, particularly over recruitment. He publicly criticised the club’s transfer stance, saying after the Leeds game, “I came here to be the manager of Manchester United – not to be the coach.” The club’s statement thanked Amorim for his contribution and wished him well, but emphasised that the change was necessary to maximise the team’s league finish.
During his tenure, Amorim oversaw United’s worst Premier League finish (15th) and lost the Europa League final. This season, they were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by League Two side Grimsby. The club insisted that Amorim had been fully backed, with £250m spent on transfers during his time.
