Manchester United announced in an official statement the dismissal of manager Ruben Amorim after a year and two months at the helm of the team at Old Trafford.
Tensions had been escalating in recent days between the Portuguese coach and the United board following the club’s refusal to make any signings in the winter transfer window, as well as criticism of Amorim’s tactics and his control of the dressing room.
Ultimately, it seems that the 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Sunday was the final straw, prompting United to follow Chelsea’s lead and sack Amorim immediately, rather than waiting until the end of the season.
In an official statement released Monday morning, the club said, “With Manchester United currently in sixth place in the Premier League, the club’s leadership felt it was the right time to make a change in the managerial position. This will give the team the best possible chance of achieving a higher league finish by the end of the season.”
According to the statement, Darren Fletcher will take over as interim manager of Manchester United until a permanent replacement is appointed.
Amorim is considered one of the worst managers in Manchester United’s history. Since his arrival in November 2014, he has overseen 63 matches across all competitions, winning only 25, suffering 23 defeats, and drawing 15.
Under Amorim, United failed to qualify for European competitions this season, lost the Europa League final to Tottenham last year, and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the first round by a fourth-division team.
