By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Manchester United have sacked head coach Ruben Amorim, less than 24 hours after questioning the level of support being offered by the club’s board.
Amorim told reporters in the aftermath of a 1-1 draw at Elland Road that he intended to see out his contract through to 2027 before bowing out.
Fullview learnt that his dismissal comes after growing tensions between him and the Old Trafford hierarchy, including director of football Jason Wilcox.
Amorim is believed to have been informed of the January transfer policy on the authority of Wilcox, who reports to Omar Berrada, the chief executive. United were seemingly reluctant to sanction the signings Amorim wanted because the players he had targeted for his preferred 3-4-3 may not suit the next head coach and the hierarchy lost confidence that he was the right long-term solution.
There is also an insistence that the leadership of Berrada and Wilcox is best in class and that Amorim or any other head coach cannot outrank them.
In a statement on the club’s official website, United confirmed “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.”
The 40-year-old was appointed in November 2024 and won 25 of his 63 games in charge of the Red Devils.
Amorim’s 14-month stint is the shortest reign of a permanent manager at United since David Moyes was sacked just eight months into his tenure in 2014.
Ex-Man Utd midfielder Darren Fletcher will take interim charge, with United next in action at Burnley on Wednesday night.
Fletcher is currently the under-18s head coach and was the club’s technical director between 2021 and 2024, but he has never held a senior coaching position.
The 41-year-old former Scotland international played for United between 2002 and 2015, winning five Premier League titles along with the 2007-08 Champions League.