Ruben Amorim’s short, turbulent era at Manchester United has come to an end, but it is the manner in which he left that has left the club’s staff and supporters in a state of disbelief.
After a 14-month tenure that saw Man United fall to their lowest league table in more than half a century, the 40-year-old was officially relieved of his duties on Monday morning.
The decision followed a chaotic 1-1 draw at Leeds United, a result that left the Red Devils languishing in 6th place.
However, it wasn’t just the results that doomed the Portuguese coach; it was his explosive tirade at the post-match press conference, where he criticized the club’s hierarchy.
Ruben Amorim was all smiles as he left Carrington
While most managers leave their training grounds with a sense of sadness, reports suggest the atmosphere surrounding Amorim’s departure was bizarrely festive.
According to the Daily mailCarrington staff were “surprised” by what they saw on Monday afternoon.
Daily Mail’s Chris Wheeler reported: “Certainly the Carrington staff were surprised on Monday to see Amorim and his coaching staff leave the training pitch laughing and joking, the frowns of recent days long gone. He is now free and it is time for United to move on.”
Ruben Amorim pictured with a big smile, hours after being sacked by Man United…
That payout must have been nice?
[@StevenRailston] pic.twitter.com/hwPMaSe7fr
— George (@StokeyyG2) January 5, 2026
Ruben Amorim got exactly what he wanted
Many believe that Ruben Amorim got exactly what he hoped would happen.
His final press conference at Elland Road was nothing short of an ‘explosive tirade’ in which he explicitly challenged the scouting department and sporting director Jason Wilcox to ‘do their job’.
By repeatedly insisting that he was the “Manager” rather than the “Head Coach,” Amorim appeared to dare the board to fire him.
Reports indicate his relationship with INEOS had reached a breaking point just days earlier during a heated tactical dispute.
Ultimately, many believe that Amorim chose to “blow everything up” to ensure he was fired, guaranteeing a huge payout for the remainder of his contract, rather than resign and walk away empty-handed.
For a manager who once brought so much hope, his departure as a “laughing and joking” figure signals that he left the project long before the ax actually fell.
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