Ruben Amorim has been sacked as Manchester United manager after 14 months in charge and with the club sixth in the Premier League table
The club hopes to appoint a caretaker for the rest of the season before appointing a permanent manager in the summer; while under-18s manager Darren Fletcher will take charge of Wednesday's game with Burnley before the caretaker manager is appointed
In a statement, Manchester United say the decision has been made 'reluctantly' and 'it is the right time to make a change'
Defender Harry Maguire has posted on social media saying, 'thank you for everything boss', while Amorim has been spotted on a leisurely stroll this afternoon
What we know: Sources have told BBC Sport that the club felt there had not been sufficient evidence of evolution & Amorim had a 'particularly negative meeting with Jason Wilcox on Friday'
The situation had become untenable but United are sixth, in line with pre-season expectations, writes Simon Stone
Who will take over from Amorim? Current out of work managers include Gareth Southgate and Enzo Maresca while a raft of high-profile managers are out of contract in the summer and after the World Cup
Get involved - click the form on this page: Andy says Amorim 'should have gone weeks ago' while Maureen says the decision is 'disgraceful'
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It was a long time coming. I think him declaring that he was manager and coach was the final nail in his coffin.
Steve, Neath South Wales
Sad, but he’s not looked happy for a long time. Surely it can’t always be the coach/manager’s fault?
Valerie, Lytham St Annes
The person to get rid of is Jim Ratcliffe... he has poisoned the club.
Ju, Devon
Ruben Amorim was Manchester United's 10th manager since Sir Alex Ferguson departed the club in 2013 - and their win percentages as United manager in all competitions:
Amorim may have achieved a poorer Premier League win ratio than any other Manchester United manager - but there were some notable causes for celebration in among the frustrations.
From goalkeeper howlers to late derby winners, take a look at some of the highs and lows of Amorim's tenure.
Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank speaking at a press conference about the sacking of Ruben Amorim:
"The most common reason for the head coach is either stopping or getting sacked is just another example, from my point of view, that it's very difficult to achieve sustainable success if you change key personnel in clubs, like the head coach, like the sport directors.
"I think if you think you have the right ones, and you're aligned, you have to do it over a long time. It's two clubs with [managers in post for] one and a half years. I'm not judging it, it's just the facts in that sense, there could be many reasons for it - I just don't know.
"In this fantastic beautiful football world, you win one day and play well, you're in heaven. You lose and don't play that well, you're in hell.
"The best clubs, they're aligned - ownership, leadership, head coach - over time, and you keep the noise out and you look at the progress behind it, it goes up and down and hopefully over time more and more up. And you achieve something big together.
"The three biggest latest examples of that of course are City, Liverpool and Arsenal."
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Manchester United striker Michael Owen has reacted to Ruben Amorim's sacking on X. He's posted:
"[Ruben] Amorim’s sacking inevitable following his words after the Leeds game. United’s board must be secretly happy that he has given them the perfect opportunity to part ways. Probably the right call but there’s no obvious, stand out candidate out there."
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What a disgustingly short-sighted and reactionary decision. We have 8 first teams players out, 7 of them starters.
Daniel Sims, Kilmarnock
Yet again decisions made without a plan! INEOS & Sir Jim are a joke.
Jonathan Shafai, Manchester
You have to really question the United board and owners for how hard they wanted to bring Amorim in after ten Hag, and how in the process they completely bodged it by giving him next to nothing to work with to succeed. Good things take time!
Laurie, Brisbane
Ruben Amorim is not the only manager saying his goodbyes today.
In Scotland, Celtic have parted company with manager Wilfried Nancy, with Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Rangers his sixth loss in just eight matches in charge.
You can read more on that here.
Image source, Getty ImagesWest Ham v Nottingham Forest (Tue, 20:00 GMT)
West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo was asked in his pre-match news conference today about Ruben Amorim being sacked as Manchester United manager: "I am surprised. Sad. He is Portuguese. A young manager but it is what it is. We are aware that this is how the industry works."
On how Amorim bounces back from this: "It is what you have to do. Go back home, reset and get ready for the next challenge."
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We'll be here again in 18 months time, with whatever subsequent manager they appoint having been sacked, and back to square one again. Clubs like Man Utd, Chelsea and Tottenham are incapable of dealing with the root cause of their issues, unlike City, Arsenal, Liverpool etc.
Jay Patel, Croydon
It’s all about results. Amorim can’t throw his weight around if he’s not getting the results. That's not how it works. If the results were coming then he wouldn’t be having difficult conversations with his bosses. Can’t blame INEOS for losing patience.
Rich Spencer, Plymouth
For those who say he has had long enough, Amorim hasn't had one full season, team moving in right direction. Understandable there are differences in opinion at the top, but maybe Wilcox could have negotiated a way forward rather than firing a torpedo into yet another season. Very disappointing.
James Lally, Belfast
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer England manager Gareth Southgate was linked with the Manchester United job when the club was searching for a successor to Erik ten Hag little over 13 months ago.
Southgate left his position as England boss following the Euro 2024 final, when the Three Lions were beaten by Spain in Berlin.
He managed England at four major tournaments, reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and quarter-finals in 2022 in addition to leading England to back-to-back European Championship finals.
Southgate is the only manager bar 1966 World Cup winner Sir Alf Ramsey to lead the England men's team into a major tournament final.
In the major tournaments between 1966 and Southgate taking over in 2016, England won six knockout games in total. Under Southgate, England won nine such matches.
It's turning into an hourly recap but that's absolutely fine!
Here are the top lines from today so far following the news that Manchester United have sacked manager Ruben Amorim.
Image source, Getty ImagesOnly four days have passed since Enzo Marseca left Chelsea.
But could he soon be getting a phone call from Manchester United?
The Italian left the Blues fifth in the Premier League and won the Club World Cup last summer at the end of his first season at Stamford Bridge, in which he also won the Uefa Conference League and secured a top-four league finish.
But his departure came after his relationship with the club's hierarchy turned sour towards the end of 2025. Sound familiar?
Former Leicester City boss Maresca won 28 of his 57 Premier League games in charge of Chelsea.
That win ratio of 49.1% was the fifth best of all Premier League managers to have overseen at least 50 games during Maresca's time at Stamford Bridge, after Unai Emery (54.4%), Mikel Arteta (59.6%), Pep Guardiola (60.7%) and Arne Slot (62.5%).
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United want someone who keeps their opinions to themselves. A yes man. A Southgate.
Tris, Watford
Michael Carrick....just saying. Man U. Top player. Top coach. English. Considerate. Or bring back Ole. But must be Man Utd bred.
Chris Chanona, Brighton
We need a manager with pride and passion, ie Big Steve Bruce.
Sammy Dearden, Yorkshire
Former Manchester United first team coach Rene Meulensteen speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live:
"They don't want to make another mistake and very quickly go for someone that they're sort of trying to fill the void with. They need to really look.
"At the end of the day, this is not all about Ruben Amorim. It's about Ineos and the whole team behind it, as well. Because they've basically not backed up what they've been saying. So there's some questions to be asked as well. They don't want to make the same mistake.
"They have to be really calm and say 'what do we need? what do we need to make sure that United is going to get back on track in the way that is the United style?'
"They need somebody with pedigree. Someone who understands the Premier League, who's been successful in the Premier League. Someone with a strong personality, with charisma. Someone with good vision about how to take Manchester United forward.
"The most important thing is that they need to get things right in the background first. And be very very clear that when they do make an appointment that everything is aligned.
"At this moment in time, it wasn't aligned."
Image source, Getty Images
Mark Bosnich
Former Manchester United goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live
I think the original mistake was to try and replicate Sir Alex Ferguson because you aren't going to get another one. You have got to adapt to the situation that you find yourselves in right here and right now.
In my opinion, that is where a proper sporting director comes in to play. They should be an overseer of what is going on.
We heard Ruben Amorim and his cryptic comments point a finger in that direction but there are always two sides to every story.
But I really think in terms of Manchester United and where they have gone, they do seem as far away [from the Premier League title] as they have been for 10 years.
Last season they were 15th. This season they are sitting in sixth and it's still a salvageable season in terms of league position and with the variety of results that are going on.
They could very well still get into the Champions League spot but as a title contender, they are still quite a way away.
This next appointment is a huge appointment. We've said that a lot over the last 10 years but it couldn't be more true than now because this behind the scenes has to be cleared up.
And this is where things get a little spicier and where Manchester United (and maybe other clubs) are looking.
The list of "been there and done it" managers significantly increases post 2026 World Cup, with the likes of England boss Thomas Tuchel being among those out of work.
Managers out of work this summer/after 2026 World Cup:
Image source, Getty ImagesClick 'Get Involved' to have your say
It's stupid, really. I am a die heart Man Utd fan and to be honest, I get it. Amorim is stubborn at this point, he rage bated at the press conference after the Leeds Game. He gets angry a load of times, but he might be the golden manager?
Arjun Managooli, Leeds
Amorim's United didn't reach expected heights - but if they thought he was the right man, they should back him and give him the time and transfers to succeed. Now we're back to square one, with no manager and a squad half built for a 3-4-3.
Luke, London
Amorim brought the right disciplines and reset of attitudes, but ultimately his playing style was never going to work at United. BUT those who appointed him should also have known that at the outset. What a shambles all round.
Steve, Cheshire
No managerial appointment in football can guarantee success but there are those that will give you a mightily good chance of it.
Unfortunately for Manchester United, when it comes to the current crop that are out of work, there aren't many that have been there and done it all in terms of winning major titles.
Which, understandably, adds value to the decision that the club may wait until the summer for their next permanent boss.
Here's a look at some of the more realistic names out there right now:
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesWhen Manchester United last searched for a first team manager, in October 2024, Gareth Southgate was among the names being linked to Old Trafford.
Speaking at the time, Southgate said he would not return to a coaching role for at least a year after leaving the England job. Those 12 months are now up.
It was reported that Southgate was then-sporting director Dan Ashworth's preferred choice to succeed Erik ten Hag - but Ashworth was gone by December.
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, a former coach at Manchester United, former Barcelona boss Xavi, ex-Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, and Marseille coach Roberto de Zerbi were all among the possible contenders then - and remain among the club's options.
Enzo Maresca had been appointed at Chelsea just four months earlier and was not a realistic candidate in late 2024.
Maresca has links to United director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, having worked with the pair at Manchester City.
Image source, Getty Images
