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On Friday, Amorim suggested that his relationship with the club's management was becoming difficult, indicating that he might not receive complete support during the upcoming transfer window.
Following the 1-1 tie with Leeds on Sunday, the Portuguese coach directed further criticism towards the senior figures at United, expressing his desire to take on the role of a manager "not the coach" and indicating his willingness to part ways once his contract concluded in 18 months.
Less than a day later, the club announced that Amorim had "left his position as head coach of Manchester United" after holding the role for 14 months.
"With Manchester United currently positioned sixth in the Premier League, the club's leadership has made the difficult decision that now is the appropriate time for a change," United stated.
"This change aims to provide the team with the best chance of achieving the highest possible finish in the Premier League."
"The club extends its gratitude to Ruben for his contributions and wishes him all the best in the future."
Amorim's coaching staff has also exited United.
Sources informed BBC Sport that the club believed there had not been enough signs of development or improvement this season under Amorim's guidance.
The 40-year-old was appointed in November 2024 after Manchester United agreed to pay 11 million euros (£9.25 million) to activate a release clause in his contract with the Portuguese club Sporting.
During his tenure with the Red Devils, Amorim secured 25 victories out of 63 matches, while his 14-month term represents the shortest reign of any permanent manager at United since David Moyes was dismissed just eight months into his tenure in 2014.
Fletcher, a former United midfielder, is currently the head coach of the under-18s and served as the club's technical director from 2021 to 2024 but has never taken on a senior coaching role.
The 41-year-old former Scotland international played for United from 2002 to 2015, winning five Premier League titles and the 2007-08 Champions League.
He is anticipated to lead United’s press conference on Tuesday ahead of their match against Burnley at Turf Moor the next day.
‘The circumstances had grown untenable’ - analysis
When Manchester United selected Amorim as head coach - emphasizing the title - they perceived it as a forward-thinking move, bringing in someone who would thrive within a modern framework and evolve over time.
Amorim maintained a strong rapport with the players, but despite stating on various occasions, both privately and publicly, that his tactics would shift away from the 3-4-3 formation he employed at Sporting, this change never materialized, much to the discontent of the club's governing bodies.
This situation became particularly evident on December 30, when, after a four-day pause to implement a back four in the 1-0 victory against Newcastle, he switched back to a three-man defense against Wolves, moving Patrick Dorgu away from his effective right-side attacking position, which he had showcased on Boxing Day, to a left wing-back role.
Supporters were left both shocked and disappointed in equal measure.
At that stage, United had made attempts to convince long-standing target Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth to join their ranks, informing him he would be positioned on the left wing. This indicated the club's intention to shift away from the 3-4-3 formation, especially considering their significant investment of over £200 million in attacking talent.
Thus, it was hardly surprising that the formation used against Wolves, resulting in a disappointing 1-1 draw against a team that had only managed to earn two points all season, was viewed very negatively by those at Old Trafford, particularly as the team received boos from the fans.
This represented yet another significant setback in Amorim's rapport with his superiors, and his continued outspokenness exacerbated the situation.
His lack of enthusiasm for Amorim's harsh rejection of academy players – having never attended a single youth match – combined with his critical remarks about veteran members of the United squad left the 40-year-old in a precarious situation leading up to the Leeds match.
His media engagement on Friday featured a subtly veiled acknowledgment of divisions within the club.
Tensions escalated following Sunday’s 1-1 stalemate at Elland Road when Amorim delivered his final attack in response to a question, asserting that he "would not quit."
This declaration essentially forced United to choose between supporting Amorim or dismissing him. Amorim sought autonomy to execute his work, wanting to be free from the perceived interference of director of football Jason Wilcox.
While Amorim interpreted this as meddling, United regarded it as routine feedback, which had been met with consistent resistance.
The circumstances had become untenable. United sat in sixth place, aligning with the anticipated outcomes for the season, and with a roster capably able to achieve far better results than currently demonstrated with just a few straightforward tactical adjustments.
Amorim's tumultuous 14-month tenure
In January 2024, Amorim referred to his squad as potentially the worst in the club's 147-year existence.
The previous season concluded with the team in 15th place in the Premier League—this marking United's lowest finish in the top division since their relegation from Division One in 1974.
Despite reaching the Europa League final in May, they fell short, losing 1-0 to Tottenham and subsequently not qualifying for European competition for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
Over the summer, Amorim invested £216 million in new players, bringing in talents like Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Senne Lammens to bolster the roster.
In terms of performance, Amorim recorded the poorest win percentage (32%), the highest average goals conceded per game (1.53), and the least number of clean sheets (15%) of any manager in Manchester United's history.
The team will kick off their FA Cup journey in the third round against Brighton on Sunday, with a particularly low moment in Amorim’s leadership being the penalty shootout loss to League Two Grimsby in the second round of the Carabao Cup last August.
Chronology of Amorim's term
1 November 2024 - Ruben Amorim is appointed as the new head coach of Manchester United.
11 November 2024 - Amorim officially takes on the role after his departure from Sporting.
19 January 2025 - Amorim labels his team as "maybe the worst" in the club's lengthy 147-year history.
17 April 2025 - Manchester United executes an incredible comeback, scoring two goals in the dying moments of extra time to overturn a 4-2 deficit against Lyon, thus advancing to the Europa League final.
21 May 2025 - Manchester United suffers defeat in the Europa League final to fellow Premier League team Tottenham.
25 May 2025 - The club endures the most disappointing Premier League season in history, finishing 15th with a total of 42 points.
June - August 2025 - United invests over £200 million in new acquisitions, including Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha.
27 August 2025 - Manchester United experiences a disgraceful exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two's Grimsby.
8 October 2025 - Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe remarks that Amorim requires three years to demonstrate he can be a "great" coach.
24 November 2025 - Ten-man Everton secures a rare victory at Old Trafford despite losing Idrissa Gueye within 13 minutes.
30 December 2025 - Manchester United fails to secure a win against bottom-placed Wolves, who leave Old Trafford with just their third point of the season.
2 January 2026 - Amorim suggests that his rapport with club officials may be strained as the January transfer window commences.
4 January 2026 - Amorim expresses his desire to operate as a manager rather than merely a coach, indicating a willingness to part ways at the expiration of his contract in 18 months' time following a 1-1 draw with newly promoted Leeds United.
5 January 2026 - Amorim exits Manchester United.
'Bring back Solskjaer' - your opinions
David: He was effectively asking for his P45 with those remarks. It typically signals the end.
Brian: Utterly ridiculous. What will they do next? Hire someone compliant whom they can manipulate, allowing the players to run amok as they have since Sir Alex Ferguson left?
Salley: He ought to have been dismissed last season. We need Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back.
Adam: I'm so let down! After the dismal period with Erik ten Hag, Amorim initially seemed like a revitalizing force, bringing passion and a vision to restore our identity. However, his inflated sense of self regarding his playing style has led to impulsive comments and questionable team selections. One would think that with new leadership, additions, and a coach the toxicity would be eliminated, but it's clear that a toxic element still exists within Manchester United.
Jonathon: Yes, he should have been let go. But goodness, this club is a complete mess at the moment.
Ben: It's an absolute farce. Regardless of the path we take moving forward, the board will always have the final say. No real changes.
Dylan: You can't confront your boss without facing repercussions. Losing to Spurs in the Europa League final should have been the last straw!
Ethan: This is the wrong choice. Last season under Ten Hag was tough, yet we seemed to flourish with Amorim, particularly in European competition.
Matthew: Like anyone else in the workplace, if I took to the media to complain about my managers and the organization, I would expect to be fired.
Pat: A grave error. A manager of this caliber and quality comes along so rarely, and when they do, upper management should recognize his worth and support him by allowing the time he needs. Perhaps this reflects more on their managerial skills than on his. Truly heartbroken.
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