Manchester United have dismissed head coach Ruben Amorim, plunging the club into yet another search for a permanent manager. The decision marks the seventh time the club has sought a long-term boss since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Public Disputes and Poor Results Seal Fate
The Portuguese coach's departure on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, followed a series of public clashes with the club's hierarchy and a lack of success on the pitch. Amorim, who was only 39 and had no Premier League experience when appointed in November 2024, failed to win any trophies during his 14-month tenure.
His exit mirrors that of Enzo Maresca at Chelsea last week, showing the peril of publicly challenging club leadership. Amorim inflamed tensions after Sunday's 1-1 draw at Leeds by disputing his job title, arguing he should hold the more powerful "manager" role rather than "head coach". He had also publicly called for more say over transfers.
On the field, the record was dismal. Amorim led United to a humiliating League Cup defeat by fourth-tier Grimsby Town in August and lost last season's Europa League final to a struggling Tottenham side. The team finished a lowly 15th in the Premier League last term and currently sit sixth.
A Club in Persistent Turmoil
The sacking raises serious questions about whether anything fundamental has changed at Old Trafford, despite a shift in operational control. The Glazer family ceded day-to-day running to INEOS billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, but the club appears no closer to recapturing past glories.
The mood within the club is described as increasingly tempestuous. Not only has Ratcliffe's first major managerial appointment failed, but widespread unhappiness exists over job cuts and cost-saving measures implemented by the new regime.
What Next for the Red Devils?
The next manager will inherit a squad in need of investment and a fractured environment. A key question will be how much power and transfer budget they are granted, a factor that proved decisive in Amorim's downfall.
With the club stuck in a cycle of hiring and firing, and the new leadership structure already facing criticism, United's prospects for a swift return to the summit of English football look bleak. The search for a figure who can finally provide stability and success begins again, with the shadow of Ferguson's legacy looming as large as ever.
