Ruben Amorim has swiftly departed the United Kingdom after being dismissed as manager of Manchester United. The 40-year-old Portuguese coach is reported to have already made plans to leave the country and reunite with his family following the club's decision to terminate his contract.
The Axe Falls at Old Trafford
Amorim was sacked on Monday morning, 5th January 2026, less than a day after his remarkable post-match outburst following United's draw with Leeds. Reports from Sky Sports indicate the former Sporting CP boss was not taken aback by the decision, with the club's hierarchy having allegedly resolved to part ways even before that Premier League fixture. Despite his dismissal, Amorim is said to remain keen to return to management 'soon'.
The dismissed head coach reportedly maintained confidence that his squad would have secured Champions League qualification and that the team's fortunes would improve once players returned from the Africa Cup of Nations. However, his relationship with the Manchester United board had become increasingly strained.
A Clash of Vision and Authority
The core of the conflict appears to have centred on transfer strategy and Amorim's defined role at the club. In what proved to be his final press conference, Amorim made a pointed distinction about his position. "I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United. That is clear," he stated.
He further elaborated, "I know that my name is not Tuchel, is not Conte, is not Mourinho, but I'm the manager of Manchester United. It's going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decided to change." This public declaration highlighted a fundamental disagreement over his level of control.
Transfer Window Tensions
Amorim is claimed to have believed the squad required one or two experienced signings during the January transfer window to bolster their campaign. This stance, however, clashed with the club's apparent plans. He publicly declared last week that the transfer window would not alter the squad, indicating a lack of backing for his recruitment ideas.
In December, he hinted at his frustration, saying, "I have the feeling if we have to play a perfect 3-4-3, we need to spend a lot of money and we need time. I'm starting to understand that is not going to happen. So, maybe I have to adapt." The adaptation never came, and the differences with Director of Football Jason Wilcox proved irreconcilable.
Amorim had previously admitted to having 'another idea' than Wilcox regarding player recruitment, stressing the need to find 'common ground'. Ultimately, no such middle ground was established, leading directly to his departure. The club has now begun its search for a successor, with former Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner reportedly a top target.
