The tenure of Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford came to an abrupt end on Monday afternoon, just 14 months after the Portuguese manager was appointed with the task of reviving the club’s fortunes.
The decision was announced by Manchester United officials following a 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Sunday, a result that left the team sixth in the Premier League table.
While the club’s position is an improvement on their fifteenth-place finish last season, a recent run of only one win in five matches proved to be the final straw for the leadership team, including chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.
The sacking follows a particularly tense press conference in which Amorim bristled at questions regarding his job security. He delivered a defiant message, insisting that he was the manager of the club with full authority, rather than just a coach taking orders.
Reports suggest that tensions had been building behind the scenes for weeks, primarily centered around disagreements over January transfer targets and the scouting department's efficiency. Amorim had publicly urged the board to do their job in the days leading up to his dismissal, a move that reportedly made his position untenable in the eyes of the owners.
Darren Fletcher, the former United midfielder and current under-18's coach, has been placed in interim charge of the first team.
He is expected to lead the side for the upcoming Premier League fixture against Burnley on Wednesday while the club begins its search for a permanent successor.
Several high-profile names, including Xavi and Gareth Southgate, have already been linked with the vacancy.
