Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim during the Premier League match at Elland Road, Leeds. Picture date: Sunday January 4, 2026.
Danny Lawson – Pa Images | Pa Images | Getty Images
English soccer giant Manchester United has parted ways with head coach Ruben Amorim, just after he raised questions over his role at the club amid rumors of tensions with the club hierarchy.
Appointed in November 2024, the 40-year-old had overseen one of the club’s worst finishes in recent history last season, 15th out of 20 in the Premier League, the top division of English soccer.
A statement from the club, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, said the move would “give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.”
The stock was steady in premarket trading as of 7 a.m. ET, up around 0.1%.
Amorim was Manchester United’s first managerial appointment following billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of a minority stake in the club in February 2024 from the Glazer family. Ratcliffe took an initial 27.7% stake, before ramping that up to 28.94% in December 2024, and has since assumed control of all football operations.
Since the initial deal, worth $1.6 billion, Ratcliffe has also made a series of changes to the club’s structure, hiring a new CEO and Director of Football.
Speaking before his departure, Amorim hinted at frustrations over his role at the club following a draw with Leeds United on Sunday.
“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. That is going to finish in 18 months (when his contract expires) and then everyone is going to move on. That was the deal. That is my job. Not to be a coach.”
The club is currently 6th in the Premier League.
Manchester United said former player Darren Fletcher will lead the club in its next game against Burnley on Wednesday.