Premier League club Manchester United has sacked its manager, Ruben Amorim. This firing has come as a shock to most, seeing how the English giants have been performing better in the league than last season.
Manchester United Sacks Ruben Amorim
Amorim took over the managerial duties of United in 2024, when former manager Erik Ten Hag was fired a few games into the 2024-25 season. The 40-year-old was previously the boss of Portuguese side Sporting CP, helping them win their first domestic league title in 19 years.
After impressing as a young manager in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, the Red Devils saw Amorim as the manager who would dig the side out of the rut they had been in for over a decade.
Amorim did make some massive signings for the club. His first major signing was bringing in left-back Patrick Dorgu from Leece for 30 million euros in the 2024-25 winter transfer window. In the post-season summer transfer window, he shored up the squad from top to bottom.
Centre-back Benjamin Sesko was in for Rs 76.5 million, right-wing attacker Bryan Mbeumo for 75 million, and attacker Matheus Cunha for 74.2 million, spending over 282 million euros in signing seven players across two windows.
By the time he took over the job in November 2024, United had gotten off to its worst-ever start in the Premier League. And despite some positive results early in his tenure, the club had their worst-ever league finish, ending the season in 15th.
The Manchester-based club did reach the final of the UEFA Europa League, only to lose to Tottenham Hotspur, finishing their season trophyless and in the dumps.
By comparison, the 2025-26 season was going much better for Manchester United. While they are not playing any European football, the side is currently sixth in the Premier League with 31 points in 20 matches. His most recent results include a 1-1 draw against Leeds, a 1-1 draw against the abysmal Wolves, a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United, a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, and a 4-4 draw against Bournemouth.
The reason behind the club’s sacking the manager is unclear, whether it was the recent run of form or the misery of the last year or so. The official statement by Manchester United goes as follows:
“Ruben Amorim has departed his role as Head Coach of Manchester United… With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club’s leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change. This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish… The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future.”
Former Manchester United midfielder and league winner Darren Fletcher has taken over as the interim manager. He will be overseeing the team until the club finds a new boss.
Despite it being only the first week of the year, Ruben Amorim isn’t the first manager of a traditional top-six English club to have been fired in 2026, as Chelsea fired Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day.
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