Manchester United Parts Ways with Ruben Amorim, Appoints Darren Fletcher as Interim Manager
Ruben Amorim Dismissed After 14 Months
Manchester United has officially announced the termination of Ruben Amorim's contract after a tenure of 14 months. Darren Fletcher has been named as the interim manager following Amorim's last match, which ended in a 1-1 draw against Leeds United, placing the team sixth in the Premier League standings.
The decision to part ways with Amorim was conveyed during a meeting on Monday morning with Jason Wilcox, the director of football, and chief executive Omar Berrada. The club issued a statement expressing that the leadership felt it was necessary to make a change to enhance the team's chances for a better finish in the Premier League. They thanked Amorim for his contributions and wished him success in his future endeavors. Fletcher will lead the team in their upcoming match against Burnley on Wednesday.
Amorim took over in November 2024, succeeding Erik ten Hag, and led United to the UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao in May. However, his time in charge saw only 24 wins out of 63 matches, resulting in a win percentage of 38%.
His dismissal came shortly after he publicly questioned the support from the board. Following the draw at Elland Road, Amorim expressed his intention to fulfill his contract until 2027, stating, "I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not just the head coach. I know my name isn't Conte, Tuchel, or Mourinho, but I am the manager of Manchester United. I will continue until the board decides otherwise."
He further emphasized his role, saying, "I want to be the manager of this team, not merely a coach. I was clear about that, and I intend to fulfill my role for the next 18 months before moving on. If the club cannot handle criticism, then changes need to be made across all departments, including scouting and the sporting director. I will do my job, and then we will see what happens next."
United has stated that there were no internal conflicts or ultimatums involved in Amorim's departure, and he had the backing of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the leadership team. The club remains optimistic about its young squad's potential to meet its goals this season, with Fletcher now at the helm.