Manchester United sack Ruben Amorim following tumultuous 14 months as manager

Premier League club Manchester United have sacked manager Ruben Amorim as head coach after a 14-month tumultuous stay at Old Trafford. The decision came after United's underwhelming performance at home against 16th-placed Leeds United on January 4.Ruben Amorim received the backing from the United ownership for an extended period, but the INEOS-led top hierarchy ran out of patience following frustrating performances in recent weeks. Club legend Darren Fletcher has been called in to replace Amorim for the upcoming game against Burney.Manchester United sack Ruben AmorimIn a statement, the club said: "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."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."Darren Fletcher will take charge of the team against Burnley on Wednesday."While the on-field performances did not put him in a comfortable spot, his recent post-match statement proved to be the final nail in the coffin. Following the draw against Leeds, Amorim made explosive comments in which he criticised and challenged Manchester United bosses.He said: "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, and then everyone is going to move on."That was the deal. That is my job. Not to be a coach.“I want to finish with that. I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me.”It should be highlighted that the Portuguese repeatedly stated that he was ready to move on once his contract expired in 2027.During the presser, Amorim repeatedly stated he was ready to move on once his contract expired in 2027.Ruben Amorim leaves with terrible statisticsRuben Amorim, who arrived from Sporting last season, took over the helm from Erik ten Hag. He had an abysmal 2024/25 season where the team finished 15th on the table and lost the UEFA Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. Following the horrendous run, the club supported him by splurging money on many new signings. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and Sene Lammens were some of the players the Red Devils signed this summer. While the signings made some difference, pleasing football remained a rare sight under Amorim.Amorim leaves United with arguably the worst statistics a manager has produced for the club. Amorim won only 24 of his 63 games in charge in all competitions, showcasing a win rate of 38.1 per cent, the worst rate of any United manager since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.