Manchester United have dismissed manager Ruben Amorim, ending the Portuguese coach’s 14-month stint at Old Trafford following a disappointing run of results and mounting pressure over the club’s league position.
The decision was confirmed on Monday, one day after a 1–1 Premier League draw with Leeds United that left United sixth in the table and sparked a defiant press conference from Amorim, who insisted he would not step down.
“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,” the club said in a statement. “This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.”
Amorim, 40, was appointed in November 2024 after United parted ways with Erik ten Hag, with the club hoping the highly rated former Sporting Lisbon manager would bring tactical clarity and stability.
Instead, results remained uneven. United finished Amorim’s first season in 15th place — their lowest league finish since relegation in 1974 — and were beaten by Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.
This season offered modest improvement, but not enough to satisfy club executives or supporters. After 20 league matches, United sit sixth, 17 points adrift of leaders Arsenal, having won just three of their last 11 games.
The immediate trigger for Amorim’s dismissal appeared to be Sunday’s draw with Leeds, which prompted an unusually forceful defence of his position during a post-match press conference.
Questioned about his job security, Amorim rejected suggestions that his authority had been undermined and pushed back at criticism from pundits, including former United defender Gary Neville.
“If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticisms of everything, we need to change the club,” Amorim said, referring to Neville’s repeated criticism of United’s tactical rigidity.
He emphasized that he had joined United with a clear mandate that extended beyond coaching on the training pitch.
“I came here to be the manager, not to be the coach,” Amorim said. “Every department — the scouting department, the sporting director — needs to do their job.”
Amorim also made clear that resignation was not an option, stating that his role had been agreed as a fixed-term project. “I was really clear on that,” he said. “That is going to finish in 18 months and then everyone is going to move on. That was the deal.”
He added: “I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me.”
Less than 24 hours later, the club opted to act.
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Amorim arrived in England with a strong reputation built at Sporting Lisbon, where his structured approach and success with a three-at-the-back system earned widespread praise.
At United, however, his commitment to the same system drew criticism as results faltered. Analysts and former players questioned whether the squad was suited to the approach, with Neville among those calling for greater tactical flexibility.
While Amorim defended his philosophy publicly, sources close to the club said patience within the hierarchy was wearing thin as performances stagnated.