Amorim exit adds to financial burden of change at Manchester United

January 5, 2026 Oliver Obel

Amorim was dismissed on Monday, January 5, one day after United drew 1-1 with Leeds United at Elland Road. While the result provided the immediate backdrop, internal strains had been evident for some time.

After the match, Amorim suggested publicly that he wanted greater authority in his role, describing his desire to act as a “manager” rather than a head coach. Those remarks intensified existing concerns about alignment between the coaching staff and senior executives.

Reporting by The Athletic indicated that United’s top decision-makers, including chief executive Omar Berrada and football director Jason Wilcox, concluded the working relationship was no longer sustainable. Disagreements over responsibilities, communication and long-term planning were said to have contributed to the split.

Club position and contractual reality

United confirmed the departure in a brief statement, acknowledging the difficulty of the decision and thanking Amorim for his contribution during his time at the club.

The circumstances of his exit make the move a costly one. United had paid Sporting CP £9.25 million to appoint Amorim in November 2024 and handed him a contract running until 2027, with an option for an additional season. The agreement did not include provisions to significantly limit compensation in the event of an early departure.

Financial impact

According to The Sporting News, Amorim was earning about £125,000 per week, placing his salary at roughly £6.5 million per year. With more than a year remaining on his deal, United are expected to owe close to £10 million in compensation.

Amorim also arrived with five members of his coaching staff from Sporting CP. While the club has yet to outline their future roles, similar exits in the past suggest further compensation costs may follow.

Those figures add to a growing list of managerial pay-offs. ESPN previously reported that United paid £14.5 million in compensation to Erik ten Hag, his staff and former sporting director Dan Ashworth after Ten Hag’s dismissal in October 2024.

Looking ahead

With Amorim gone, attention has turned to who might take over next. Media reports have linked former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca and Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner with the vacancy, though no formal approach has been confirmed.

In the interim, former United midfielder Darren Fletcher is expected to oversee first-team duties, beginning with Wednesday’s Premier League match against Burnley.

For United, the latest change reinforces a familiar challenge. Until the club establishes clearer alignment at boardroom and technical levels, the cycle of abrupt endings and their financial consequences is likely to continue.

Sources: The Athletic, The Sporting News, ESPN