In a move that underscores the continuing managerial turmoil at Old Trafford, Manchester United have parted ways with head coach Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese manager's tenure, which began with great promise in November 2024, ended abruptly in January 2026 after a combination of poor results, tactical stubbornness, and a damaging public outburst.
The Promise That Faded Quickly
When Ruben Amorim arrived at Manchester United, he was seen as a visionary. At just 39, he had already led Sporting CP to two Primeira Liga titles, breaking a 19-year drought for the club. His reputation was so glowing that he was even considered a potential successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. United acted swiftly, securing his signature on a contract until June 2027.
However, the reality of managing one of the world's biggest clubs proved overwhelming. Amorim inherited a squad from predecessor Erik ten Hag that was ill-suited to his preferred fluid 3-4-3 system, which often morphed into a 3-4-2-1 or 3-2-5 in attack. The 2024/25 season was a disaster: United won only 7 of his 27 matches in charge, finishing 15th in the Premier League—their worst league position since the 1989-90 season. A dull Europa League final loss to Tottenham capped a miserable start.
Stubborn Tactics and a Costly Inflexibility
Ahead of the 2025/26 season, hope flickered anew. The club backed Amorim in the transfer market, spending a massive £225 million on new signings like forwards Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Yet, results did not improve.
Amorim's insistence on a back-three formation proved a major weakness. The campaign began with just one win in the first five matches across all competitions, including a humiliating EFL Cup exit to fourth-tier Grimsby Town. Heavy defeats to Manchester City and Arsenal followed.
While brief moments of promise emerged—like a memorable 2-1 win over Liverpool—the team's defence remained leaky. A telling moment came when injuries and AFCON departures forced Amorim to field a back four against Newcastle. United won 1-0. Yet, in the very next match against Wolves, he reverted to his back three, resulting in a 1-1 draw where they struggled against the bottom-placed side. This unwillingness to adapt became a defining flaw.
The Final Straw: The Explosive Leeds Rant
Amorim's fate was sealed after a 1-1 draw with 16th-placed Leeds United on January 4, 2026. In a remarkable post-match interview, he launched into a rant suggesting he lacked the club's backing.
"I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United... I know that my name is not (Thomas) Tuchel, it’s not (Antonio) Conte, it’s not (Jose) Mourinho, but I’m the manager of Manchester United. It’s going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decides to change," Amorim declared.
This public airing of grievances was the final straw. In a subsequent meeting with football director Jason Wilcox, United's hierarchy found his responses "very negative and emotional." Coupled with a perceived lack of progress—despite the team being 6th in the table—the decision was made to terminate his contract.
A Statistical Legacy of Failure
Ruben Amorim leaves Manchester United with the worst statistical record of any permanent manager in the club's history. As per Opta, he recorded the lowest win ratio (32%), the worst goals conceded per game ratio (1.53), and the lowest clean sheet ratio (15%). His reign, hailed as a new beginning, ended as another costly misstep in United's long search for stability and success, leaving the club to once again search for the leader who can restore its former glory.
