United caught by surprise at Amorim exit - report | OneFootball

Amorim's final match at Leeds ended 1-1 (image: Gettyimages)

As journalists and insiders sift through the wreckage of Ruben Amorim’s dramatic departure at Manchester United, it is increasingly clear that the call to fire the Portuguese this week was an abrupt decision for which the club had not planned.

Amorim’s time in charge at Old Trafford has been blighted by a poor record for most of the last 14 months, but it seems a rapidly-deteriorating relationship with the United board came to an explosive climax last week. After words both in private and in public, Amorim’s position was deemed untenable, not least because those inside the club felt the ex-Sporting man appeared ready to leave his role.

United have been attempting to convey the dismissal of Amorim as being largely about lack of progress in terms of results. However, according to reports, including a detailed recap of recent events in The Athletic, the inconsistent recent form of the team is merely the backdrop for a total breakdown in relations, which sharpened around the New Year.

Amorim’s perseverance with a 3-4-2-1 shape despite underwhelming results was a constant source of conversation in the media throughout 2025. Inevitably, those discussions began to happen inside the club, with many above Amorim becoming convinced the Portuguese required variety his methods in other to improve the club’s fortunes. It is believed Amorim expressed an openness to modify his tactical beliefs in the long term when he took the job.

However, according to The Athletic, this season has seen most of the figures above Amorim conclude that a shift to a back four system in particular should be explored. Sporting director Jason Wilcox, head of recruitment Christopher Vivell and even part-owner Jim Ratcliffe have all expressed a keenness to see a change in formation at the club, which unsurprisingly led to growing tension.

A resolution appeared to have been made in December when Amorim spoke openly about modifying his approach. According to sources, the players were informed that a move to a back four was incoming and training began to reflect more adaptability. Whether the decision was made purely by Amorim, who has always suggested he was open to change, or as part of a compromise was unclear, but the notion of varying his methods encouraged many.

When United took to the field against Bournemouth on December 15, the defensive line began to resemble a four-man shape. Amorim switched back to his 3-4-2-1 at times after that, including the trip to Aston Villa which yielded a 2-1 defeat most agreed was harsh on United, but for the visit of Newcastle to Old Trafford on Boxing Day, the team was deployed in a clear 4-2-3-1.

United beat Newcastle 1-0, albeit Amorim reverted to a more defensive set-up late in the game. Nevertheless, there was a sense that the United manager was becoming more flexible in his tactics. The winning goal was even scored by a surprise selection: Patrick Dorgu, commonly used at left wing-back, was positioned high on the right wing by Amorim – a call which proved astute as Dorgu found a level of confidence barely seen since joining the club, underlined by a stunning volley from the Dane to win the match.

Tipping point against Wolves

What followed in the next home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers surprised many. Facing a team which also deployed a back three, Amorim reverted to his familiar 3-4-2-1 system to match up the opposition man-for-man. The shape not only surprised and deflated many inside Old Trafford, including United legend Gary Neville on commentary, it also failed to produce the impact Amorim needed from it. United were held 1-1 by a Wolves side which had earned two points all season.

The fallout from the Wolves match appears to have been significant. Not only did Amorim face growing criticism from supporters and ex-players, it seems further meetings with the hierarchy immediately after the match saw the subject of tactics resurface, much to Amorim’s frustration.

Things came to a head on Friday, just a few days after the Wolves draw. Amorim met with sporting director Wilcox, with the latter again raising the issue of a tactical problem. According to The Athletic, Amorim responded angrily, with the conversation ending with the Portuguese stating he wished to leave the club and would be informing his agent.

The subject of transfers has grown across recent weeks heading into the winter window. It has emerged that of the five senior players signed since Amorim took charge – Patrick Dorgu, Senne Lammens, Bejamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo – only the latter two were certified Amorim ideas. In the cases of goalkeeper Lammens and striker Sesko, Amorim reportedly preferred the more experienced Aston Villa duo of Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins. However, it has not been implied that either arrival was the source of major dispute.

United had trailed Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo for some time, with Amorim labelling the winger a “special player” ahead of the teams meeting last month. When it became clear Semenyo would opt for Manchester City, Amorim is thought to have been left frustrated when informed the money would unlikely be directed to other targets this January.

Wilcox is believed to have urged Amorim that he must place more trust in the current players to perform his methods, while continuing to advocate tactical adjustments. When Amorim responded by saying he wanted more wholesale changes to the squad, tensions between manager and board only grew further.

Leeds outburst seals fate

United played fierce rivals Leeds United on Sunday, during which the Red Devils stood up to a strong physical challenge against one of the league’s in-form sides. Despite eight absentees – many of them starters – United managed a 1-1 draw which may not have excited supporters, but did not depict a group of players lacking commitment to the task.

The draw left United in 6th place – right in line with pre-season expectations. Yet when Amorim took to the media room to conduct his post-match press conference, he proceeded to invite further attention to the off-field issues. “I notice that you receive selective information about everything,” he began, when asked if he still felt the confidence of the board.

“I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United. That is clear. I know that my name is not Tuchel, it’s not Conte, it’s not Mourinho. But I’m the manager of Manchester United. And it’s going to be like this for 18 months [end of the contract] or when the board decides to change.

“I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me. 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 and then everyone is going to move on. That was the deal. That is my job. If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticisms, we need to change the club.

“I came here to be the manager, not the just the coach. Every department: the scouting department, the sporting director needs to do their job. I will do mine. For 18 months and then we move on.”

According to The Athletic and many other outlets close to the situation, Amorim’s words - coming two days after the heated sipute with Wilcox - sealed his fate. The decision to remove him was made later that day and the official announcement was made less than 20 hours after the Leeds press conference. In their statement, United used the term “reluctantly” to describe the process whereby they reached their solution. On the training pitch, Wilcox told the United squad he was shocked by the events of the last few days and pointed to a change in Amorim's behaviour being a cause of the seperation.

Amorim was seen smiling later on Monday after his exit was confirmed, perhaps relieved to finally be unburdened. Some may question whether such an outburst from a manager prone to emotional blowups could not have been fixed with cool heads in the leadership, but if those above Amorim had lost faith to the extent of constant interference, perhaps such an ending was inevitable.

United will turn to ex-players to steady the ship, just like they did when dispensing with fellow Portuguese José Mourinho seven years ago. There are growing reports that the same former charge – Ole Gunnar Solksjaer – will take the reigns until the end of the season. United are 6th, putting them right in the fight for European spots which are seemingly vital financially.

Amorim leaves as forthright and honest as when he arrived, while he will receive his compensation in full, as will his youthful coaching staff as they head back to Portugal from the cold Manchester winter. As fans mull over what has proved a disastrous period, few who are still in position at United will escape scrutiny over the coming weeks.

The debacle is the latest major issue which United’s co-owners Ineos are perceived to have misjudged. Just months after assuming control in early 2024, the new board issued a contract extension to Dutch manager Erik ten Hag, only to fire him two months into the new season. Elsewhere, sporting director Dan Ashworth was hired after a lengthy pursuit, only to be relieved of his duties after five months. Such chaotic episodes have left many unconvinced by the new ownership.

For Amorin, who will enjoy a quiet birthday when he turns 41 later this month, the motivation to use this experience as a learning curve for his managerial career will be strong. The Lisbon native is not the first to struggle to deal with the mayhem that is the Old Trafford hotseat.

He will be back. And from a Portuguese perspective, hopefully a better manager for it.

By Sean Gillen