Manchester United announced on Monday that head coach Ruben Amorim had been sacked, just 14 months after taking charge. The departure came after the club's 1-1 draw against Leeds United in the Premier League, with United sitting sixth in the table. Former United defender Rio Ferdinand expressed surprise at the sacking but noted that Amorim's demeanor had shifted in recent weeks, becoming less jovial and more 'depressing' in press conferences. Ferdinand suggested that issues began to 'cook before Christmas,' indicating the situation was not an overnight development.

Amorim's own comments following the Leeds match had raised doubts about his future, hinting at underlying disharmony. He notably insisted on being referred to as 'manager' rather than 'head coach' and publicly urged the club's scouting department and sporting director 'to do their job.' Gary Lineker, another former England striker, suggested Amorim 'provoked it,' describing the fit as wrong and criticizing Amorim's stubborn playstyle, which he felt did not suit the players. Lineker also implied a lack of support from the club in terms of player acquisitions and labelled Manchester United a 'basket case' football club.

Michael Owen, a former United striker, deemed Amorim's sacking 'inevitable' following his public comments, suggesting the board found a convenient opportunity to part ways. Meanwhile, players Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes posted farewell messages on Instagram, wishing Amorim and his technical staff well for the future.

Amorim's statistical record during his tenure reveals a challenging period for the club. Under his leadership, United won only two of their last six league games and held a 40% win percentage in the Premier League this season, with eight wins from 20 matches. Across all 63 games managed, United secured 24 wins, 18 draws, and suffered 21 losses. This record left Amorim with an unfortunate 31.9% win ratio, the worst of any permanent Manchester United boss. His average of 1.23 points per game in the Premier League is the lowest among all managers at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013. Additionally, United had the worst goals conceded per game ratio (1.53) and the lowest league clean sheet ratio (15%) under Amorim. Since his appointment, only three ever-present sides – Spurs, West Ham, and Wolves – had accumulated fewer points than United's 58.

In his first season, Amorim guided United to a 15th-place finish in the league and to the Europa League final, where they lost 1-0 to Tottenham. With Amorim's departure, former midfielder Darren Fletcher will temporarily take charge for the team's next game until a caretaker boss is appointed. Amorim becomes the 11th manager or head coach for Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Rene Meulensteen, a former United first-team coach, emphasized the need for the club to hire a replacement with 'pedigree,' a strong personality, charisma, and a clear vision, specifically someone who understands and has been successful in the Premier League.