Manchester United have sacked manager Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge, with the club set to pay the Portuguese coach an estimated Sh4.7 bn (£27 million) in compensation.
According to Mirror, the figure includes Sh1.65 billion (£9.5 million) paid to Sporting Lisbon to secure his services, nearly Sh1.35 billion (£7.8 million) in wages earned during his tenure, and an estimated Sh1.7 billion (£10 million) severance for the remaining 18 months of his contract.
United described the decision as “reluctant” in a statement, saying, "After careful consideration, we believe it is the right time to make a change. We thank Ruben for his efforts and wish him well in the future."
Amorim, who joined Old Trafford in November 2024, leaves the club sixth in the Premier League after a season of inconsistent results.
In his 63 games in charge, United won just 24, lost 21, and drew 18.
His average of 1.23 points per game was the lowest of any permanent United manager in the Premier League era.
Speaking after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds, Amorim hinted at tensions with the board, saying, "I just want to say that I’m going to be the manager of this team, not just the coach, and I was really clear on that. If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticisms of everything, we need to change."
The club has named Darren Fletcher as interim manager for Wednesday’s Premier League clash against Burnley, with Ralf Glasner among the frontrunners for the permanent role.
Financially, the payout for Amorim ranks among the most expensive managerial exits in Manchester United’s recent history, underscoring the high stakes of the club’s search for stability on and off the pitch.