In a decisive move, Manchester United have terminated the contract of their head coach, Ruben Amorim. The club confirmed the Portuguese manager's departure on Monday, 5 January 2026, ending his turbulent 18-month tenure at Old Trafford.
A Tenure Defined by Struggle
The decision comes on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Sunday. That result left the Red Devils languishing in sixth place in the Premier League table this season. Amorim's time in Manchester will be statistically remembered as the least successful in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. He managed just 24 victories from 63 matches, giving him the lowest win percentage of any United manager since the legendary Scot's retirement.
Interim Appointment and Final Clash
The club has moved swiftly to appoint a caretaker manager. Darren Fletcher, currently the coach of the Under-18s side, is expected to take interim charge until the season concludes. His first test will be a Premier League fixture against Burnley on Wednesday night.
Amorim's exit was preceded by telling comments after the Leeds match, where he hinted at a significant rift with the club's leadership. He stressed that he was initially hired as the club's 'manager', not merely as a 'head coach', suggesting a disagreement over the scope of his authority.
Amorim's Defiant Farewell
"It's going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decide to change," Amorim stated defiantly. "That was my point, I want to finish with that. I'm not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy comes here to replace me."
Manchester United issued a brief official statement, noting: "Ruben Amorim has departed his role as Head Coach of Manchester United. Ruben was appointed in November 2024 and led the team to a UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao in May." This reference to the 2025 Europa League final appearance stands as the lone highlight in an otherwise underwhelming spell for the 40-year-old former Sporting CP boss.
