Ruben Amorim walked into Old Trafford believing he could change everything. Fourteen months later, he walked out having changed nothing—except, perhaps, the club's appetite for patience.
Manchester United confirmed the Portuguese coach's dismissal on Monday morning, barely 24 hours after an explosive post-match press conference following the 1-1 draw at Leeds. The speed of the decision tells you everything about how badly relationships had deteriorated behind the scenes.
The final straw
Sources at Old Trafford point to a Friday meeting between Amorim and director of football Jason Wilcox as the beginning of the end. What was supposed to be a routine tactical review descended into confrontation. Amorim, according to ESPN, responded to Wilcox's feedback about evolving his 3-4-3 system with "very negative and emotional" resistance.
The tension spilled into public view at Elland Road. When asked about the transfer window, Amorim didn't hide his frustration: "I came here to be the manager of Manchester United—not to be the coach of Manchester United. I know my name is not Tuchel, Mourinho or Conte, but I'm the manager." He then pointedly told Wilcox to "do his job."
Rio Ferdinand called it the moment everything changed. "That's been the reason why it's been so sharp and quick overnight—his comments a few hours ago," the former United defender said on his YouTube channel. Gary Neville was more measured but no less concerned, noting that Amorim had been "starting to unleash" in recent days.
The numbers don't lie
Strip away the politics and the statistics damn Amorim regardless. His 32% win rate is the lowest of any Manchester United manager in the Premier League era. He averaged just 1.23 points per game—worse than Ralf Rangnick's interim stint. The team conceded 1.53 goals per match under his leadership.
In 47 Premier League matches, United won just 15. They lost exactly a third of all his games in charge, the worst record for a permanent manager since Frank O'Farrell in the early 1970s.
Last season ended with a 15th-place finish and defeat in the Europa League final to Tottenham. This campaign offered brief hope—United sit sixth—but the underlying issues never disappeared. A Carabao Cup exit at League Two Grimsby in August set the tone for what followed.
What went wrong
The answer depends on who you ask. Club sources insist Amorim was "fully aligned" with their transfer strategy and that approximately £250 million was spent on new signings during his tenure. They say the decision was driven by a lack of "evolution or progress" on the pitch, not personal conflicts.
Amorim's perspective differs. He believed he wasn't getting adequate backing, particularly in this January window. Sky Sports News reports he wanted an experienced Premier League striker—Jean-Philippe Mateta being one name of interest—but the club prioritised summer plans instead.
Then there's the tactical stubbornness. Amorim famously declared that "not even the Pope" could make him change his 3-4-3 formation. When he finally did—switching for the 1-0 Boxing Day win over Newcastle—it came too late to rebuild confidence.
What comes next
Darren Fletcher takes interim charge for Wednesday's trip to Burnley. Beyond that, United face a familiar question: who wants this job?
Names will circulate. Thomas Tuchel, fresh from his England World Cup commitment. Mauricio Pochettino. Carlo Ancelotti. Oliver Glasner. Gareth Southgate. Sources tell ESPN there's no clear plan yet—just a recognition that the mistakes of hiring Moyes, Van Gaal, Mourinho, Solskjær, Ten Hag, and now Amorim cannot be repeated.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe promised Amorim three years in October. That promise lasted less than three months. The next appointment will need more than promises—they'll need results.
