MANCHESTER United have sacked manager Ruben Amorim, with the club planning to appoint a caretaker manager for the remainder of the season.
Former midfielder Darren Fletcher will take charge for Wednesday’s Premier League game against Burnley.
The Scot will remain in place until a caretaker is appointed, with the club planning to name a permanent successor for Amorim in the summer.
On Friday, Amorim had a particularly hostile meeting with the club’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, in which the 40-year-old reacted negatively to comments made about his tactics and formation in a 1-1 draw against Wolves.
In a news conference shortly after that meeting, Amorim hinted that his relationship with club officials was strained – suggesting he would not be fully backed in the transfer market.
And following the 1-1 draw with Leeds on Sunday, the Portuguese aimed another dig at senior United figures, stating he wanted to work as a manager, “not the coach”, and was ready to leave when his contract expired in 18 months’ time.
Less than 24 hours later, the club announced Amorim had “departed his role as head coach of Manchester United” after 14 months in charge.
“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.
“This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.
“The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future.”
Amorim’s coaching team have also left United.
In October, United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said on The Business podcast, external Amorim would be given three years to “demonstrate he is a great coach” and that the club needed to be “patient”.
But sources have told BBC Sport that the club now feels there has not been sufficient evidence of evolution or progress this season under Amorim.
He was appointed in November 2024 after United agreed to pay Portuguese club Sporting 11m euros (£9.25m) to trigger a release clause in his contract.
Amorim won 25 of his 63 games in charge of the Red Devils, while his 14-month stint is the shortest reign of a permanent manager at United since David Moyes was sacked just eight months into his tenure in 2014.
Former United midfielder Fletcher is currently the under-18s head coach and was the club’s technical director between 2021 and 2024, but he has never held a senior coaching position.
The 41-year-old former Scotland international played for United between 2002 and 2015, winning five Premier League titles along with the 2007-08 Champions League.
He is expected to hold United’s news conference today before their game against Burnley at Turf Moor the following day. (BBC Sport).