The Amorim era is over!: Manchester United sack Portuguese manager after just 14 months in-charge

Ruben Amorim leaves Manchester United with the worst win record in the history of the club. (Image credits – CommonsWikipedia, Licence Details)

Manchester United have sacked manager Ruben Amorim after just 14 months in charge, after the Portuguese coach hinted in an interview that his relationship with the club's top officials is not up to the mark.

The club is set to appoint a caretaker manager for the remainder of the season, while former midfielder Darren Fletcher will be on the sidelines for United’s next game against Burnley.

The Scottish international will be in charge of the first team until the Man Utd board appoints a suitable successor for Amorim. 

Everything went wrong for the Portuguese following the 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Sunday. Amorim lashed out at the top officials of the club for not backing him in the transfer market and was not given enough freedom in sporting decisions a manager should get.

Less than 24 hours later, he was sacked, which clearly shows that the club removed him for his rants against the top officials, not the results.

The 40-year-old was appointed to replace Erik ten Hag in November 2024 after Man Utd had paid a release clause of £9.25m to Sporting Lisbon for his services.

Amorim leaves the club as one of the worst managers to have managed in its recent years, winning just 25 games out of 63. His stint is also the shortest ever at Old Trafford since David Moyes, who was sacked after 8 months in charge.

Who will replace Ruben Amorim at Manchester United?

Manchester United are in a huge mess now and desperately seek a manager to replace Ruben Amorim. The ownership led by INEOS wants a manager to stabilise the situation at the club and has reportedly assessed a few names.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is seen as a top candidate to replace Amorim in the summer. He is experienced in the Premier League and has done an exceptional job with young players.

Glasner is appreciated by many, but his pragmatic approach has brought doubts as well, which could lead the club to assess former FC Barcelona manager Xavi.

The Spaniard had previously shown interest in managing the Red Devils, and now after Amorim's sack, it could materialise as well. Reports have claimed that Xavi is interested in managing a club in the Premier League and is looking for a return to managing after his short tenure with the Catalan giants.

Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna and Enzo Maresca, who is a free agent now, are also appreciated for the job within the club. The Italian manager has impressed the board after winning the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup in such a short time with the Blues.

Julian Nagelsmann could also be an option for the Red Devils in the summer, as the club's recruitment director, Christopher Vivell, has previously worked with him at RB Leipzig. The former Bayern Munich manager may seek a return to club football after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Germany.

For now the club is set to monitor the progress patiently, while Darren Fletcher will lead the team from the sidelines until the INEOS-led ownership finds a suitable replacement in the summer.