Fletcher to replace sacked Amorim

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

Ruben Amorim is out as coach of Manchester United after just 14 months in the job.

The Premier League club announced yesterday that Amorim’s reign was over, with the decision coming less than 24 hours after he made provocative comments about his position within United’s hierarchy.

“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,” United said in a statement. “This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish .”

United said youth coach Darren Fletcher would take charge of its match against Burnley tomorrow, but did not set a timeframe for a permanent replacement.

Amorim’s departure comes after a fallout with United sporting director Jason Wilcox, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the details have not been made public.

The person said Wilcox tried to provide feedback following the disappointing 1-1 home draw against last-placed Wolves last week, which Amorim did not react well to.

That preceded Amorim’s outburst on Sunday, following another draw, against newly promoted Leeds, when the Portuguese sought to clarify his position.

“I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United,” he said. “And that is clear.

“I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me.”

The United job has proved one of the most difficult in world football since club legend Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, with Amorim the sixth permanent manager or coach to be discarded in that time.

He leaves the 20-time English champions having failed to deliver any silverware and after overseeing a slew of unwanted records, including their lowest finish in the Premier League era last season.

Last January he said his team might be the worst in the club’s history.

And he apologised to fans in May for what he described as a “disastrous” campaign when United finished 15th in the standings, recorded their highest number of losses in the modern era, and lowest points total.

Amorim was considered one of the brightest coaches in Europe when United hired him from Sporting Lisbon to replace Erik ten Hag in November 2024 at a cost of $12 million. He had led the Portuguese giants to two league titles in four years and was seen as the ideal candidate to take United back to the summit of English football after more than a decade since they were last crowned champions.

But results plummeted in his first season, and defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final ended hopes of qualifying for the lucrative Champions League.

Still, he was given more than US$300 million to reshape his squad with signings like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. But the struggles have continued this term, with United winning only two of their first six games in the league and suffering a humiliating loss to fourth-tier Grimsby in the League Cup.

Results have improved, but just three wins from the last 11 games have seen United fail to close the gap on the top three in the standings.

Amorim faced constant questions about his tactics — opting for a system with wingbacks that did not seem to suit his players. He was also questioned over his reluctance to play one of United’s most talented home-grown talents in Kobbie Mainoo, who was largely overlooked despite previously being a key player for England.

There was growing impatience within United about how long it was taking for his tactics to evolve, the person said. And the Wolves game, which saw him revert to a much-criticised three-man defence against the worst team in the league, appears to be have been the tipping point that prompted Wilcox to give feedback.

The conversation with Wilcox took place on Friday. On Monday morning, Wilcox and Chief Executive Omar Berrada informed Amorim at the club’s training ground that he was being fired.

United dominated England’s top flight since the inception of the Premier League in 1992 — winning 13 titles. But they have not been crowned champions since Ferguson’s retirement.

Top names have been hired since then, including Champions League-winning coaches Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, but they have only brought limited success.

Amorim’s predecessor, Ten Hag, won trophies in each of his two full seasons, reached three major finals and qualified for the Champions League. But that was still not enough to save his job after a troubled start to his third campaign.

Amorim was the first head coach appointed under the minority ownership of British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, who assumed control of United’s football operations from majority owners, the Glazer family.

He is the latest high-profile hire to come and go under Ratcliffe, following the swift exit of former sporting director Dan Ashworth after less than six months.

Ratcliffe has sought to control spending since investing US$1.3 billion for up to 25 per cent in 2024 and has made sweeping cuts. But the departures of Ten Hag and Ashworth alone cost $18 million, according to United’s accounts. That was on top of the fee paid to release Amorim from his contract at Sporting Lisbon.

Amorim’s United contract ran until 2027. It is unknown what severance he will be due.

The AP approached Amorim’s representatives for comment.