Manchester United dismiss head coach Ruben Amorim; Carrick takes over

Manchester United announced on 5 January 2026 that they had parted ways with head coach Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese had been in charge since November 2024, after leaving Sporting CP, and the decision came the day after a 1-1 Premier League draw at Leeds United.

Amorim's spell had been difficult. United finished the 2024-25 season well down the Premier League table and lost the Europa League final, and results in the following campaign remained inconsistent. Tension had also grown between the coach and the club's leadership over the scope of his role and control of squad decisions.

Michael Carrick, a former United midfielder who had previously served on the club's coaching staff and briefly led the team as caretaker in 2021, was named interim head coach. The appointment was meant as a short-term solution while the club considered its longer-term plans. It put Carrick at the centre of the debate over who should lead the team, which resurfaced when results later turned poor.