07/01/2026

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M ANCHESTER UNITED’S sacking of Ruben Amorim marks the culmina tion of the latest failed chapter in the club’s post-Alex Ferguson story, this one defined by public barbs, stubborn tac tics and utterly dismal form. The Portuguese coach, hired in November 2024 to replace Erik ten Hag, frequently sparred with pundits and hinted at a power struggle with senior figures within the club when he repeatedly defended his defensive strategy after appalling initial League performance that mar ginally improved this season. The latest in a long line of managers who have tried and failed to bring back the good times that flowed under Ferguson, Amorim had hinted for a couple of weeks that he was not pleased with the level of interference from United’s board. Sunday’s explosive press conference follow ing their 1-1 draw with Leeds United, in which he even name-checked pundit Gary Neville, appeared to be the final straw. “If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticisms of everything, we need to change the club,” Amorim said. “I just want to say that I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach. And every department – the scouting department, the sports director – needs to do their job.” Neville responded by comparing it to former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s similarly cryptic complaint, that led to the Italian leaving on New Year’s Day, suggesting Amorim was playing a dangerous game and signalling unrest Chelsea confirm Rosenior as new head coach

United spent approximately £250 million (RM1.45m) to try to change that, making them one of the highest gross spenders in the Premier League, but still the results did not show the level of improvement the club demanded, with their shocking loss to League Two club Grimsby Town in the League Cup in August among the most shambolic results of his coaching tenure. Last March, with United struggling, United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe described him as an out standing young manager “and I think he will be there for a long time”. In October he said that Amorim needed three more years to prove himself, comparing his tenure to Mikel Arteta’s early struggles at Arsenal. Sunday’s press conference, however, sug gested that faith had slipped. Amorim refused to clarify whether he still enjoyed boardroom support, insisting he was the “manager, not the coach” despite his head coach job title. He implied he was digging in his heels to stay for 18 months – “or when the board decide to change.” This veiled referencing of his contract and consistent mention of the hierarchy’s inade quacies suggest a behind-the-scenes authority clash, perhaps the tipping point that prompted his dismissal. That was supported yesterday when a United source said that the club “developed an expert leadership team that enables the club to operate at the highest levels. Whilst the head coach is a key part of our ecosystem, they do not sit above it.” – Reuters

Ex-United gaffer Ruben

Amorim. – AFPPIC

Reign of errors

Outbursts, honesty, tactical rigidity and poor results will be Amorim’s epitaph

Many expected Amorim to be sacked after last season. Their 15th-place League finish with 42 points was their lowest in over 50 years and worst since the 1973/74 relegation season. Their ugly loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final in May prompted another outburst, in which Amorim told reporters he would leave “without compensation” if the club’s board felt he was not right for the job. Amorim’s press conferences were both raw emotion and a breath of fresh air for media in a League full of managers’ measured responses. In the aftermath of a 3-1 defeat to Brighton last season, he labelled his side “maybe the worst team in Manchester United history.”

within Old Trafford’s power structures, saying the comments “are never usually good.” From the outset, Amorim stood square behind his trademark back three system of either 3-4-3 or a slight variation of 3-4-2-1. Senior figures, including director of football Jason Wilcox, reportedly urged tactical flexibil ity but Amorim remained unmoved until finally in late December, he briefly shifted to a back four, partly due to the mounting pressure, poor results, player injuries and international absences for the Africa Cup of Nations. In a comment last week about the transfer window, he said his 3-4-3 formation would not work unless the club spent “a lot of money.”

Candidates for the Old Trafford hotseat

Gareth SOUTHGATE Former England manager Gareth Southgate, 55, is reportedly admired by the Old Trafford hier archy and has been linked with the United job in the

Thomas TUCHEL

RUBEN AMORIM was sacked as Manchester United manager on Monday after 14 months in charge, sparking specu lation over his successor at Old Trafford. Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher has been put in temporary charge, with the club reportedly keen to appoint a care taker manager for the rest of the season. Here’s a look at potential appoint ments as United search for their seventh permanent manager since the departure of Alex Ferguson in 2013. Oliver

Thomas Tuchel has one job at the moment – to win the World Cup with England later this year. The German, 52, has hinted that he is

LIAM ROSENIOR was confirmed as Chelsea’s new head coach yes terday following the sacking of Enzo Maresca. The 41-year-old has signed a deal until 2032 to manage the London club, becoming the fourth fulltime head coach appointed since American Todd Boehly’s 2022 takeover. “I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club,” Rosenior, who leaves his post at French club Racing Strasbourg, said in a club statement. “This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of win ning trophies.” Rosenior took charge of Strasbourg in July 2024 after coaching spells at Derby County and Hull City. In his first season, he led them to European qualification for the first time in 19 years. Rosenior, whose father Leroy was also a player and then man ager, has never faced the kind of media glare that will await him in west London. “I’m so excited about the future. I cannot lie. My whole life I’ve worked to be a coach,” he said. “To be presented with this opportunity to manage a world class football club is something I’ve always dreamed of. With that is a mixed emotion of sadness of what I’m leaving behind.” His playing career was spent almost equally between the Premier League and Championship and he turned out for Fulham, Reading, Hull and Brighton, among other clubs. He then moved into coaching and after a short spell in charge of Brighton’s U-23s, Rosenior began his senior coaching career in 2019 at Derby County, first under Phillip Cocu and then as assistant to Wayne Rooney. Rosenior briefly replaced Rooney on an interim basis in 2022 and later that year took over as manager of Hull in the Championship, England’s second flight. After just over 18 months in charge, he was sacked and in July 2024 was appointed by Strasbourg, who he guided to seventh place in Ligue 1 last season. On Monday, Rosenior met with Chelsea’s sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, after which a Strasbourg source said that the Ligue 1 outfit was already working on finding a replacement “as soon as possible”. Former Bournemouth and Wolverhampton boss Gary O’Neil, ex-Southampton manager Will Still and Welshman Eric Ramsay, who previously worked as a youth coach at Chelsea and an assis tant coach at Manchester United, are rumoured to be on Strasbourg’s short-list. Maresca’s 18-month spell as Chelsea manager came to an abrupt end on New Year’s Day. U-21s coach Calum McFarlane took charge for Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City. Chelsea travel to west London rivals Fulham, one of Rosenior’s old clubs, tomorrow (3.30am Malaysian time). – Reuters/AFP

past. But it is unclear whether the former Middlesbrough boss would favour a return to club management after stepping down from England duty following Euro 2024.

open to prolonging his stay but the for mer Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss could be tempted by the Old Trafford hotseat. Mauricio POCHETTINO Manchester United have pre

GLASNER Oliver Glasner guided Crystal Palace to their first major trophy by lifting the FA Cup last season. The 51-year-old Austrian, whose Palace contract expires at the end of the current

Unai EMERY Unai Emery has transformed Aston Villa’s for tunes since tak ing over three years ago. The 54-year-old Spaniard master

viously been linked with a

move for former Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino. The

campaign, has been linked with several clubs. Glasner, like Amorim, has mostly used a three-man defence with wing backs at Palace, but last year he told Sky Sports that his favourite formation is 4-4 2. Enzo

minded a thrill ing Champions League campaign last season and his side are now pushing Arsenal and Manchester City hard at the top of the Premier League. Darren FLETCHER If Darren Fletcher, 41, hits the ground running

Argentine, 53, is currently in charge of the US national team, meaning he could be available to take over after the World Cup.

Andoni IRAOLA

MARESCA Enzo Maresca parted ways with Chelsea last week after falling out with the club’s hierarchy. The 45 year-old Italian won the Uefa Conference League and Club World Cup in his

Spain’s Andoni Iraola, 43, has impressed since taking over at Bournemouth in 2023, securing club-record Premier League points tallies in

during his interim spell, could he be a candidate for the full-time job at United? The former Red Devils

midfielder has never managed a senior side but has a huge chance to impress. He may hope to follow in the footsteps of former teammate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who landed the job permanently after impressing as caretaker boss.

his first two seasons. His three visits to Old Trafford as Bournemouth boss have included two 3-0 wins and last month’s dramatic 4-4 draw. AFP

first season at Stamford Bridge and has been linked with the Manchester City job should Pep Guardiola quit at the end of the season.