Manchester United’s managerial merry-go-round has spun once again, with Ruben Amorim’s short-lived tenure coming to an abrupt end on January 6, 2026. The Portuguese coach, brought in with high hopes of instilling clarity and modernity, instead leaves behind a fractured squad, a muddled campaign, and growing questions about the club’s direction. The latest shake-up has seen Darren Fletcher, a familiar face at Old Trafford, step into the caretaker manager role, as the club weighs its options for a permanent successor.
Amorim’s time at United was marked by internal strife, particularly over transfer policy. The 40-year-old manager had clear ideas about the reinforcements needed to make his favored 3-4-2-1 system tick, but found himself repeatedly overruled by the club’s hierarchy. According to sources close to Amorim, one of the most frustrating aspects was the pushback he faced in the transfer market. He lobbied hard for Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa to be his new No 1 goalkeeper, only for the board to press ahead with a deal for Senne Lammens. Up front, Amorim favored Ollie Watkins, but head of recruitment Christopher Vivell pushed for the younger Benjamin Sesko, with the board ultimately choosing potential over proven Premier League experience.
Amorim also set his sights on Nuno Mendes for the left wing-back role, but the Paris Saint-Germain man remained in France as United opted for Patrick Dorgu from Lecce. The manager’s frustrations extended to his former club, Sporting Lisbon, where he attempted to bring in Geovany Quenda, Ousmane Diomande, Salvador Blopa, and Morten Hjulmand. Quenda’s camp spent weeks in talks with United, but the promising Portuguese youngster ultimately agreed a deal with Chelsea, set to join the London club in the summer of 2026. Insiders at United have suggested that Quenda’s profile was too similar to that of Amad Diallo, leading to waning interest. Diomande’s physical presence was another attribute Amorim wanted to add, but again, the club’s decision-makers had other ideas.
Midfield was another area where Amorim saw a glaring need, with Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand identified as a key target who could slot seamlessly into his tactical setup. Yet, the board’s vision for the summer overhaul took them in a different direction. Figures close to the ousted coach have pointed to these transfer setbacks as a major reason why his system never fully took flight at Old Trafford. As one source put it, "Amorim did not feel support from key figures at the club, particularly regarding the vision for the transfer market."
The end came swiftly for Amorim. Summoned to Carrington on Monday morning, he was dismissed in a meeting with chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. The final straw, insiders say, was a confrontational exchange with Wilcox the previous Friday, where Amorim stood firm on his tactical philosophy and resisted calls to abandon his back-three system. With few personal belongings at the training ground, Amorim cleared out quickly, departing with his six-man backroom staff and a £10 million pay-off—bringing the total cost of his hiring and firing to nearly £27 million.
Darren Fletcher, who has been coaching United’s Under 18s, immediately stepped into the breach as caretaker manager. Fletcher is no stranger to the first-team environment, and his appointment has sparked intrigue about the club’s next move. There’s talk of another caretaker being installed to see out the remainder of the 2025 season, or the possibility of waiting until summer for a permanent solution. Among the names being touted, Kieran McKenna stands out as a leading candidate.
McKenna is well known at Old Trafford, having served as a respected first-team coach under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before Amorim’s arrival in 2024. His tactical acumen, attention to detail, and ability to communicate ideas have earned him plaudits both within United and beyond. Since leaving Manchester, McKenna has performed wonders at Ipswich Town, guiding them to Premier League promotion two seasons ago. Despite relegation, he stayed on, rebuilt the squad, and as of January 6, 2026, has Ipswich sitting third in the Championship and firmly in the promotion hunt again.
What sets McKenna apart, according to supporters and pundits alike, is his flexibility and player development. Unlike Amorim, who rigidly stuck to his 3-4-3 formation regardless of results, McKenna has shown a willingness to adapt his tactics to fit the strengths of his squad. This quality is seen as crucial for a United side bursting with talent but lacking in coherence and identity. As one analysis put it, "This squad does not need another ideologue. It needs a coach who can work with what he has, improve individuals on the training ground and create a collective identity without forcing square pegs into fashionable round holes."
There’s also a sense that McKenna understands the unique pressures of the United job. He’s lived the politics, the scrutiny, and the expectations, and has done so without being overwhelmed. Many believe he represents the modern, adaptable coach United desperately need—one who can bring stability and a clear vision, rather than imposing a rigid system.
While the managerial search continues, Fletcher’s interim reign offers an unexpected subplot: the potential debut of 15-year-old JJ Gabriel. The young forward, who has been a revelation under Fletcher with the Under 18s, could become United’s youngest ever player if he features in the upcoming FA Cup tie against Brighton on January 11. Gabriel has already made a mark at Old Trafford, scoring the winner in the FA Youth Cup against Peterborough United last month. Insiders are not ruling out his inclusion in the matchday squad, with Premier League rules barring 15-year-olds from the league but not from the FA Cup.
As the club navigates this period of flux, there’s also uncertainty about who will take charge of the Under 18s for their FA Youth Cup round four clash against Derby County on January 23. With Fletcher’s role in flux and speculation swirling about possible returns for Solskjaer or Michael Carrick, the coaching hierarchy remains unsettled.
Meanwhile, speculation is mounting over Amorim’s next move. Despite laughing off links to Benfica in September, he is now considered a leading contender to take over at his former club in the summer, especially as Jose Mourinho’s side has slipped to third in the Portuguese League, 10 points adrift of leaders Porto despite remaining unbeaten. Should Benfica part ways with Mourinho, Amorim could find himself back in Lisbon, this time in the dugout.
Amidst all the upheaval, the presence of Sir Alex Ferguson still looms large. Now 84, the legendary manager was spotted after the recent Wolves game, greeted warmly by fans as he left Old Trafford. With United now searching for their seventh permanent manager since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013—and their sixth caretaker or interim boss—the club’s faithful can be forgiven for longing for the stability and glory of the past.
For now, Manchester United stands at another crossroads, with a caretaker at the helm, a talented teenager on the cusp of history, and a fanbase hungry for a return to the days when Old Trafford was synonymous with certainty and success. The next few months will be crucial in determining whether the club can finally break the cycle and find a leader capable of restoring order and ambition to this storied institution.
