Manchester United have revealed that parting ways with Ruben Amorim could cost the club close to £16 million. The Portuguese coach was dismissed on 5 January after publicly criticizing the club’s leadership following a 1–1 draw against Leeds United. His comments reportedly deepened tensions within the club’s hierarchy and led to swift action.
The financial details were disclosed in a filing to the New York Stock Exchange. In that report, United stated that £6.3 million an amortized portion of the fee paid to sign Amorim from Sporting CP in November 2024 had been written off. Additionally, the club set aside £15.9 million as a provision, representing the maximum potential payout owed to Amorim and his coaching team.
While the filing did not specify what would trigger the full payment, sources suggest it may depend on Amorim’s future employment. For now, the 41-year-old has remained silent about his time at Old Trafford, and those close to him say he is unlikely to speak publicly anytime soon.
A Very Expensive Experiment
Amorim’s appointment was seen as a bold move. In November 2024, United paid £11 million to Sporting to bring him to the club. He replaced Erik ten Hag. Ten Hag’s departure had already cost United £10.4 million. When you combine the compensation fees, hiring costs, and settlement payments, the total spending rises sharply.
The overall expense linked to the managerial changes around Amorim could reach £37.3 million. His time in charge lasted just 14 months, making it the shortest permanent managerial reign at United since David Moyes was dismissed after eight months in 2014. Expectations were high when Amorim arrived, but results did not match the ambition.
In 63 matches, he secured 25 wins. United finished 15th in the Premier League their worst league performance since relegation in the 1973–74 season. They also lost the Europa League final and missed out on European competition this season, something that has only happened once before since 1990.
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Results That Fell Short
This season brought further disappointment. Amorim’s side suffered an embarrassing Carabao Cup exit after losing on penalties to Grimsby Town, a League Two club. It was a result that shocked supporters and intensified criticism of his leadership.
At the time of his dismissal, United were sixth in the Premier League. Reports indicated a serious disagreement with director of football Jason Wilcox shortly before the Leeds match. The internal conflict appeared to signal that Amorim’s position had become unstable.
Despite the struggles, there were moments of promise. However, inconsistency and high-profile setbacks overshadowed any progress. For a club of United’s stature, patience is often limited especially when performances fail to meet expectations.
A Fresh Start and Financial Shifts
After Amorim’s exit, former midfielder Darren Fletcher briefly stepped in as interim manager. Soon after, Michael Carrick was appointed until the end of the season. Carrick has made an immediate impact, winning five of his first six matches, including a victory over Everton. United have climbed to fourth place and are now in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League.
Off the pitch, the club also adjusted its finances. United increased their available credit facility by £50 million to £400 million, while paying off £75 million. They now owe £215 million under that arrangement. The filing also noted that £600,000 worth of sponsorship services had been provided to Ineos Automotive, linked to minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The numbers tell a clear story changing managers at the highest level comes at a high price. For Manchester United, the Amorim era may be over but its financial impact will be felt for some time. Keep following other interesting football discussions only on footballcoasters.co.uk.