After Just 14 Months at Old Trafford, Manchester United Fires Ruben Amorim

The Final Straw: Comments After Leeds Draw Lead to Swift Exit

The club's official statement was very clear: they "reluctantly" decided it was time for a change to give the team the best chance of finishing strong in the Premier League. At the time, United was in sixth place, which wasn't great but wasn't bad either. Fans wanted them to be at the top. It was polite of them to thank him for his work and wish him well. Darren Fletcher, a club legend and youth coach, stepped in for a short time to coach the next game against Burnley.

But the buildup to the Leeds match was what really pushed everything over the edge. Reports say that Amorim and sporting director Jason Wilcox had a heated conversation after a bad draw with Wolves, who were at the bottom of the table at the time. After the game, it looks like Wilcox gave Amorim some advice, but he didn't like it. Amorim went to his news conference after the Leeds game, which was another draw that felt like losing points.

Frustrations with Club Structure and Transfer Power

Amorim didn't seem happy with that because it made him feel like he had less power, especially when it came to transfers. He hinted that he was angry that the scouting department and higher-ups didn't fully support his plan.

This whole "manager vs. head coach" debate ties into the bigger changes at United under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS. When Amorim was hired, the job title was deliberately "head coach," part of a new structure where recruitment and big decisions involve a team – sporting director, CEO Omar Berrada, and others.

Amorim seemed increasingly unhappy with that, feeling it limited his control, especially around transfers. He hinted at frustrations with the scouting department and higher-ups not fully supporting his vision.

The fallout with Jason Wilcox highlighted deeper issues in how the club operates now compared to the Ferguson era.

A Disappointing Record and Lack of Silverware

When you look at his record, it's easy to see why the stress got to him. Last year, United had one of the worst seasons in Premier League history. They came in 15th, which was the worst finish in the modern era. They lost the most games and had the fewest points in a long time. They lost the Europa League final to Tottenham, which meant they couldn't play in the Champions League.

This season also got off to a bad start, with only a few wins at the beginning and humiliating losses, like the cup loss to lower-league Grimsby. Amorim had a lot of help in the transfer market, spending over £300 million on players like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to make his system work.

But things didn't get much better. He stuck with his 3-4-3 formation, which worked well in Portugal but often left the team open to attack in England. Gary Neville and other critics ripped him apart for not changing.

United got some points here and there and looked good at times, but they weren't always good. He won about 38% of the 63 games he played in all competitions, which isn't great compared to the players who came before him.

The Post-Ferguson Curse Continues at Old Trafford

When you look at his record, it's easy to see why the stress got to him. Last year, United had one of the worst seasons in Premier League history. They came in 15th, which was the worst finish in the modern era. They lost the most games and had the fewest points in a long time. They lost the Europa League final to Tottenham, which meant they couldn't play in the Champions League.

This season also got off to a bad start, with only a few wins at the beginning and humiliating losses, like the cup loss to lower-league Grimsby. Amorim had a lot of help in the transfer market, spending over £300 million on players like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to make his system work.

But things didn't get much better. He stuck with his 3-4-3 formation, which worked well in Portugal but often left the team open to attack in England. Gary Neville and other critics ripped him apart for not changing.

United got some points here and there and looked good at times, but they weren't always good. He won about 38% of the 63 games he played in all competitions, which isn't great compared to the players who came before him.

What Next for Manchester United and Amorim

Are the managers the problem, or are there bigger issues like hiring, ownership, or the company's overall direction? Even though United spent a lot of money, they were still behind their rivals. Amorim left after a fight over transfers and power, so the next hire will have to be able to work with this hierarchy instead of against it.

Fletcher will keep things stable for now, but the search for a permanent replacement is on. Names like Oliver Glasner from Crystal Palace, Andoni Iraola, and even bigger ones are going around. The team is good but not always consistent, is in the middle of the table, and is always under pressure at Old Trafford.

At only 40, Amorim is still a young coach. He is talented because he won two titles with Sporting in Portugal. He'll come back somewhere else, maybe to a team where he has full control. But his time at United ends on a bad note, which shows how hard it can be to play at the top level.

Fans are always divided. Others believe he should have had more time to fix things, especially since he had help. Some people think that his public anger and the results made it necessary. One thing is for sure: Manchester United is still trying to find stability. Things have been going up and down since 2013, and this new twist just adds to the drama. We hope that the next chapter will be better. The club and its fans deserve it after all these years in the wilderness.