Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has delivered a stunning public ultimatum to the club's board, suggesting his tenure at Old Trafford has a firm 18-month expiry date following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United.
Amorim's Explosive Post-Match Declaration
Speaking after the Premier League clash at Elland Road on Sunday, Ruben Amorim made his position brutally clear. Despite his official title being Head Coach, the Portuguese stated he came to Manchester to be the manager in the full sense of the word, and his time at the club will conclude when his contract ends in 2027.
"I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United. That is clear," Amorim told reporters. "I know that my name is not Tuchel, is not Conte, is not Mourinho, but I'm the manager of Manchester United. It's going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decided to change."
He added definitively: "That is going to finish in 18 months, and then everyone is going to move on. That was the deal. That is my job, not to be a coach."
Frustration Over Transfer Strategy Boils Over
Amorim's remarkable statement appears to be the culmination of growing frustration over the club's transfer policy. He had previously hinted on Christmas Eve that he could not sign the players required to implement his preferred 3-4-3 system, forcing him to adapt his tactics.
In his latest comments, he pointedly referenced the need for other departments at the club to fulfil their roles. "Every department, the scouting department, the sport director needs to do their job. I will do mine for 18 months and then we move on," he said.
The 40-year-old insisted he would not resign, but would see out his current deal on his own terms: "I'm not going to quit. I will do my job until other guy is coming here to replace me."
Points Shared at Elland Road
The dramatic press conference followed a hard-fought draw in West Yorkshire. Brenden Aaronson put Leeds ahead just after the hour mark, but Matheus Cunha equalised for the visitors just three minutes later. The point moved Manchester United up to fifth in the Premier League table.
Amorim was positive about his team's performance despite the dropped points, telling TNT Sports: "I think we played well. We controlled Leeds... We had our opportunities to win the game." He highlighted that the team is "more in control of the games" than last season, but admitted frustration at not securing all three points.
The match saw some notable individual performances and dilemmas. Cunha's equaliser was only his fourth of the season, underlining United's need for more consistent firepower, especially with Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo absent. Amorim also made a tactical statement by deploying left wing-back Patrick Dorgu as a right-sided No.10.
For Leeds, Dominic Calvert-Lewin continued his impressive form since joining on a free transfer, hitting the post with a first-half header.
What Happens Next for United?
Amorim's comments have thrown his long-term future at Manchester United into serious doubt and set a clear timeline for his departure at the end of the 2026/27 season. It represents a direct challenge to the club's hierarchy over the structure of power and transfer strategy.
The manager's claim that he is a "manager" and not just a "coach" echoes the demands of other high-profile figures like Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, suggesting a deep-seated issue at the club regarding the delineation of responsibilities. The next 18 months at Old Trafford are now set against a backdrop of a manager seemingly working on borrowed time.
