Manchester United have parted ways with head coach Ruben Amorim in a dramatic and expensive move, just days after the Portuguese made startling public comments about his role at the club.
The Comments That Sparked the Crisis
The 40-year-old's departure was triggered by remarks he made following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday. Amorim used his post-match press conference to deliver a pointed critique of the club's structure, insisting on his desire to be a manager with full control, not merely a head coach.
"I just want to say that I'm going to be the manager of this team, not just the coach. I was really clear on that," Amorim stated. He revealed his plan was always to leave when his contract expired in 2027, adding, "That is going to finish in 18 months, and then everyone is going to move on. That was the deal."
He directly challenged the club's leadership, saying, "If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticism of everything, we need to change the club... 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."
A Swift and Costly Decision
United's hierarchy acted with remarkable speed. The comments were made on Sunday afternoon, and by Monday morning, Amorim had been dismissed. Former player Darren Fletcher was immediately asked to take temporary charge for the midweek fixture against Burnley.
The financial cost of this decision is substantial. While figures vary, Sky Sports reports that sacking Amorim will cost Manchester United around £12 million. This adds to the significant investment the club made to hire him in the first place, having paid a €11 million (approximately £9.25 million) release clause to Sporting CP in 2024 to secure his services.
A Pattern of Expensive Mistakes at Old Trafford
This payout continues a worrying trend of costly managerial changes for the Red Devils. In 2024, the club spent a staggering £14.5 million to dismiss Amorim's predecessor, Erik ten Hag, along with his staff and sporting director Dan Ashworth.
Furthermore, the club's statement confirmed Amorim had led the team to the UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao in May. However, with United currently sitting sixth in the Premier League, the board decided a change was necessary to secure the highest possible finish this season.
The statement read: "With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club’s leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change. This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish."
During Amorim's tenure, the club also invested heavily in the transfer market, with £262 million spent on player fees since his appointment in November 2024.
