Ruben Amorim leaves Man United amid iternal conflict

Manchester United stated about Ruben Amorim: "Ruben Amorim has departed his role as Head Coach of Manchester United. Ruben was appointed in November 2024 and led the team to a UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao in May.

"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 achieving 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 final trigger for the decision by the Manchester United board came after the 1-1 draw against Leeds. In his post-match press conference, Ruben Amorim spoke about the club, referenced the scouting department and urged the sporting director to “do his job”.

However, the situation was not only about the interview. Sources said that even before the Leeds match, Ruben Amorim was already in conflict with Manchester United’s leadership, particularly over the team’s formation. The Athletic reported that chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox asked Amorim to change his formation, but the manager refused.

It is also notable that just three months ago, Sir Jim Ratcliffe publicly backed Amorim and said he had three years to “prove himself in the role”. Club figures such as Berrada and Wilcox continued to support Amorim, but disappointing results caused growing concern. As pressure from the leadership increased, Amorim became unhappy with the situation.

As a result, it is clear that the relationship had been deteriorating for some time. However, another perspective is the judgement of the club’s leadership. Amorim’s preference for the 3-4-3 formation is well known, and the 40-year-old manager has a reputation for being firm in his beliefs. United hired him, gave him time and invested money in players suited to his tactics, but allowed the situation to worsen before eventually making this decision.

Manchester United must now respond quickly. In the short term, Darren Fletcher, who has been coaching the under-18s, will take charge of the upcoming matches. The first will be against Burnley on 8 January in the Premier League, followed by an FA Cup tie against Brighton. The Athletic reported that the appointment of a new manager may be delayed until the summer, leaving the club’s current strategy unclear.