Ruben Amorim sacked on the spot: Surprise candidate on shortlist for new Manchester United manager

As part of Manchester United’s statement on the sacking of Ruben Amorim, the club revealed that Darren Fletcher will captain the first team in the next game against Burnley.

Since retiring, Fletcher has held a variety of roles at Old Trafford, including U16 coach, first team coach, technical director and most recently U18 head coach.

Fletcher will take charge of the first-team squad as interim manager for the Premier League clash with Burnley on Wednesday, January 7, and is likely to also take charge of the FA Cup clash with Brighton on Sunday, January 11.

Below is Ruben Amorim’s post-match press conference following Sunday’s draw with Leeds United.

His comments here may well have prompted the club’s hierarchy to take action against his sacking:

Manchester United released a statement regarding Ruben Amorim’s sacking, which read:

“Rouben Amorim has resigned as Manchester United manager.

“Ruben was appointed in November 2024 and led the team to the UEFA Cup final in Bilbao in May.

“With Manchester United in sixth place in the Premier League, the club leadership have reluctantly taken the decision that now is the right time to make a change. This will give the team the best chance of achieving the highest possible Premier League finish.

“The club thanks Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him all the best for the future.

“Darren Fletcher will take charge of the team against Burnley on Wednesday.”

Ruben Amorim stuck to his own tactics and system, which was one of the reasons for his downfall.

Amorim has used 25 different starting centre-back pairings during his time in the Premier League, eight more than any other team in the same period.

Of the 47 Premier League games he coached, 45 started with a three-man defence.

But during Amorim’s tenure, only four clubs in the Premier League have conceded more goals than Manchester United (72) – Tottenham Hotspur (76), Wolves (81) and West Ham United (84).

Well-informed sources said that the club’s top brass held a meeting last Thursday (January 1) to discuss the coach’s situation and other issues with the team. This is a good way to start the new year.

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Following Manchester United 1-1 Premier League During Sunday’s draw with Leeds, Amorim stressed in a testy press conference that he was the club’s head coach, not just their coach, casting doubt on his future.

“I’m a bit of a dreamer,” smiles Ruben Amorim. “You can call me naive, but I really feel like I was the right person at the right moment.”

That was at his unveiling ceremony Manchester United Manager, before the dream turns into a nightmare, before the naive sense of his error.

As Amorim’s misguided reign comes to an end, it’s clear this is the wrong moment for him. But he also had the wrong person.