Mansion Sports – Ruben Amorim was dismissed by Manchester United on Monday morning following a disappointing draw against Leeds. 

However, it appears that the Portuguese manager’s behavior leading up to the decision was a major factor in his sacking, rather than the match result alone.

Amorim sensationally clashed with United’s management and created tactical confusion within the squad before the announcement of his dismissal.

United’s Brutal Dismissal

Amorim was removed from his post only 14 months into his tenure, less than 24 hours after a controversial 1-1 draw with Leeds, during which he openly challenged the club’s board.

According to The Sun, tensions peaked because Amorim was reportedly intent on leaving the club and began “messing everything up” to effectively “orchestrate his own exit.”

These tensions had been escalating over several weeks, particularly regarding transfer policy during the January window.

Amorim felt he was not receiving the support he expected and vented his frustration, insisting that he was the “manager” with full authority, rather than merely a “head coach” expected to operate under a strict structure overseen by the sporting director and recruitment team.

This public outburst, following a series of disappointing results, became the tipping point for the club’s leadership to take action.

Amorim’s tenure was marked by inconsistency; he won only 24 of 63 matches across all competitions, the lowest total of any permanent United manager in the Premier League era.

In the previous season, he led United to their lowest-ever Premier League finish at 15th place, despite reaching the Europa League final, where they lost to Tottenham.

Tactical Changes Spark Confusion

This season, United were in sixth place, but the club felt there was insufficient evidence of progress or tactical evolution from Amorim’s rigid 3-4-3 system.

According to the Daily Mail, sources in the dressing room reported that Amorim gave pre-match instructions that sounded like “mumbling” and uncertainty before the Leeds match.

Sources claimed that Amorim appeared doubtful while attempting to explain last-minute tactical changes, reverting to a three-center-back formation after the squad had trained all week in a four-back system.

Players were reportedly shocked and confused by this change of plan, further reinforcing the impression that he was not fully in control of the team.

The Heavy Task of Choosing a Replacement

United legend Darren Fletcher will temporarily lead the first team while the club embarks on the difficult task of determining who will replace Amorim.

Former Manchester United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen, who worked under Sir Alex Ferguson, told the BBC:

“They do not want to make another mistake and quickly appoint someone just to fill the vacancy. They have to genuinely consider it.

“At the end of the day, it’s not just about Ruben Amorim. It’s also about Ineos and the entire team behind it. Because they fundamentally did not support what they had said. So there are some questions that need to be answered.

“They do not want to repeat the same mistakes. They have to be truly calm and ask, ‘what do we need? What is required to get United back on track in a manner that aligns with United’s style?’

“They need someone with a reputation. Someone who understands the Premier League and has succeeded in the Premier League. Someone with a strong personality and charisma. Someone with a clear vision for how to take Manchester United forward.”

The Hot Seat at Old Trafford

Life after Amorim will begin within 48 hours when United travel to relegation-threatened Burnley at Turf Moor, and the list of full-time replacement candidates includes several high-profile names.

Enzo Maresca, recently dismissed by Chelsea, is among the favorites, as is former England manager Gareth Southgate.

Other names being discussed include Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, whose contract expires this season, and Unai Emery, who is currently excelling with Aston Villa.