"I came to be the manager ... not the coach": Manchester United fire head coach Ruben Amorim
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Image: Agência Lusa.
On Monday, Manchester United football team fired its coach Ruben Amorim after fourteen months in the role. Amorim had met with Omar Berrada, chief executive officer of the team, and Jason Wilcox, the team's director of football, on Friday morning. While discussing his preferred 3-4-3 style, the conversation reportedly quickly spiraled out of control, resulting in Amorim losing his job. Manchester United announced the news of the dismissal at around 10 a.m. on Monday.
After the team drawing against Leeds F.C. 1-1, the coach had said at a press conference that he came to be "the manager, not the coach" and said Wilcox should "do his job". Wilcox intended the meeting to focus on the recent draw.
Manchester United was sixth in the Premier League, almost not classifying for the Champions League, less than four points ahead of Sunderland A.F.C., Everton F.C., Fulham F.C., Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., Newcastle United and Brentford F.C., a precarious position, El Pais reported. Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville communicated to Sky Sports News that he expected better performance, saying he "thought they'd get through another couple of weeks."
Sources
[edit]- Diego Torres. Amorim se hace el ‘harakiri’ y el Manchester United lo despide — El País, January 5, 2026 (Spanish)
- Danyal Khan. Ruben Amorim sacked: Manchester United dismiss head coach after 14 months in charge — Sky Sports, January 5, 2026
- Rob Dawson. Ruben Amorim sacked by Man United after fiery Jason Wilcox row - sources — ESPN, January 5, 2026