The football world has been rocked this Monday afternoon, January 5, 2026, by the news that Manchester United has officially parted ways with their head coach.
The decision to dismiss Amorim comes just 14 months after he arrived at Old Trafford with the reputation of being Europe’s most exciting young tactical mind.
While the “Amorim Era” began with promises of a long-term rebuild and a return to the club’s identity, it ended abruptly following a toxic breakdown in communication between the manager and the club’s leadership.
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Ruben Amorim
When Ruben Amorim was appointed in November 2024, he was hailed as the “Chosen One” to finally move the club past the shadows of the post-Ferguson era.
His early months showed immense promise; his signature 3-4-3 system initially revitalized a stagnant squad, culminating in a spirited run to the UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao in May 2025.
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However, the 2025/26 campaign has been a different story.
Currently sitting 6th in the Premier League table, the results on the pitch have struggled to keep pace with the massive expectations of the United faithful, leading to the dramatic events of the last 24 hours.
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Amorim Sacked
The news that Amorim sacked the final outcome became inevitable following Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Leeds United.
At Elland Road, the tension that had been simmering behind the scenes boiled over into a public spectacle.
During a fiery post-match press conference, the Portuguese coach delivered an ultimatum to the board, famously stating, “I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not the coach.”
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He pointedly criticized the recruitment department and Sporting Director Jason Wilcox, telling them to “do their job.”
This public insubordination proved to be the final straw for the INEOS-led hierarchy.
Manchester United
For Manchester United, this marks another painful “reset” in their search for stability.
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The decision-making team, including Chief Executive Omar Berrada and Dan Ashworth, reportedly spent the night in emergency meetings before delivering the news to Amorim this morning.
The club issued a brief statement thanking him for the 2025 Europa League Final appearance but cited a “divergence in footballing philosophy” as the primary reason for the change.
The board was reportedly unhappy with his rigid tactical approach and his recent public outbursts regarding the January transfer budget.
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Sky Sports News
The story broke early this afternoon on Sky Sports News, with reporters outside Carrington describing the atmosphere as “somber but decisive.”
Throughout the day, Sky Sports has been providing rolling coverage of the fallout, including live interviews with former United captain Gary Neville, whom Amorim also targeted in his final press conference.
The “Breaking News” ticker has remained focused on the massive compensation package United will likely have to pay—estimated at over £12 million—to cut the 40-year-old’s contract short by 18 months.
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Fabrizio Romano
As always, the “Here We Go” specialist Fabrizio Romano was among the first to confirm the internal developments.
Taking to social media, Romano noted that the relationship between the head coach and Jason Wilcox had been “completely broken” for weeks over the pursuit of specific defensive targets in the winter window.
According to Romano, the board felt that the coach had lost the dressing room after his recent comments suggested the current squad was incapable of playing his preferred system without further heavy investment.
Next Man Utd Manager Odds
With the seat now vacant, the next Man Utd manager odds have immediately surged.
According to the latest betting markets, several high-profile names are already being linked with the vacancy at Old Trafford:
| Candidate | Odds |
| Darren Fletcher (Interim) | 2/1 |
| Xavi Hernandez | 5/1 |
| Gareth Southgate | 8/1 |
| Zinedine Zidane | 12/1 |
| Kieran McKenna | 14/1 |
Darren Fletcher
In the immediate term, Darren Fletcher has been confirmed as the interim manager.
Fletcher, who has been a constant presence in the coaching setup, will lead the team for their upcoming Premier League fixture against Burnley on Wednesday.
While the club is expected to conduct a thorough search for a permanent successor, many believe Fletcher could remain in charge until the end of the season to stabilize a squad that feels increasingly disjointed.
