Manchester United have parted company with head coach Ruben Amorim after a tenure lasting just 14 months, plunging the club into a fresh search for leadership.
Amorim's Sudden Departure
The club confirmed the Portuguese manager's exit in an official statement released on Monday morning. Amorim was appointed in November 2024 and managed to guide the team to the UEFA Europa League final in Bilbao last May. However, with United currently positioned sixth in the Premier League table, the decision was made to seek a change.
The statement clarified that this move was intended to give the squad the best possible chance of securing a high league finish this season. Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher will take temporary charge, starting with the midweek fixture against Burnley.
Amorim's departure follows a 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday. In post-match comments that hinted at internal friction, the 40-year-old stressed his view of himself as the club's "manager" rather than just a "coach," stating he would not quit but would continue until the board decided to make a change.
Ratcliffe's Managerial Admiration
Attention has now swiftly turned to who will succeed Amorim at Old Trafford. While several candidates are under consideration, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who oversees football operations at United, has previously expressed significant admiration for one man in particular: Jurgen Klopp.
Back in March 2024, shortly after assuming control, Ratcliffe praised the German's exceptional motivational skills. "Klopp has this ability to drive his players to a frenzy," he said. "Total commitment on the pitch. And, you know, that's one of the things a good coach can do."
Klopp, who led Liverpool to Premier League and Champions League glory, stepped down from his role at Anfield at the end of the 2023/24 season. He is now employed as the Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull. However, he has previously indicated his Liverpool job would be his last in club management, making a sensational switch to arch-rivals Manchester United appear highly improbable.
The Search for a Successor
With a move for Klopp considered unrealistic, the club is expected to evaluate other, more attainable options. Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner is understood to be high on the shortlist, while former England manager Gareth Southgate—another long-term favourite of Ratcliffe—is also in the frame.
Other names linked with the vacancy include Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, Aston Villa's Unai Emery, and former United defender Laurent Blanc. The club's hierarchy now faces a critical period to appoint a permanent figure capable of restoring United to the pinnacle of English football.
