Manchester United confirm cost of sacking Ruben Amorim

There is never a quiet week at Old Trafford when it comes to boardroom drama.

Financial filings have once again dragged Manchester United’s recent past into the spotlight.

Supporters are still debating where things went wrong over the last 18 months, and the numbers now attached to that chapter only deepen the conversation.

What once looked like a bold reset has instead become one of the club’s most expensive miscalculations in modern times.

Manchester United have confirmed that parting ways with Ruben Amorim could cost the club almost £16 million, as reported by the BBC.

The Portuguese coach was dismissed on 5 January, a day after a tense 1-1 draw away to Leeds United, following a public criticism of the club’s hierarchy that effectively sealed his fate.

The financial details were revealed in a filing to the New York Stock Exchange, published shortly after United announced a £32.6 million profit in their second-quarter results up to 31 December 2025.

Classified as an “event that occurred after the reporting period”, the club confirmed that an amortised £6.3 million fee, relating to the cost of bringing Amorim in from Sporting CP in November 2024, had been written off.

In addition, a provision of £15.9 million has been set aside, representing the maximum potential liability owed to Ruben Amorim and his coaching staff.

While the filing does not spell out what would trigger the full payout, sources familiar with the matter suggest it is linked to future employment clauses.

Ruben Amorim has yet to publicly reflect on his time in Manchester, and those close to him indicate that silence is likely to continue for now.

When the full managerial reshuffle is calculated, the numbers are eye-watering.

United had previously disclosed they paid Sporting £11 million to secure Amorim’s services, while the departure of Erik ten Hag cost £10.4 million.

Altogether, changes connected to Amorim’s appointment and exit could total £37.3 million.

His 14-month spell marked the shortest permanent managerial reign at the club since David Moyes was dismissed in 2014 after just eight months.

Amorim won 25 of his 63 matches, oversaw a 15th-place Premier League finish, the club’s worst since relegation in 1973-74, and suffered defeat in the UEFA Europa League final, leaving United without European football for only the second time since 1990.

This season also brought humiliation in the EFL Cup, where League Two side Grimsby Town knocked United out on penalties in the second round.

At the time of his dismissal, the club sat sixth in the league, days after a reported fallout with director of football Jason Wilcox.

Former midfielder Darren Fletcher briefly stepped in on an interim basis before Michael Carrick was handed control until the end of the season.

Carrick has since steadied the ship, winning five of his first six matches, including a victory over Everton on Monday, lifting United to fourth and back into strong contention for Champions League qualification.

Off the pitch, the club also confirmed it has increased its available credit facility by £50 million to £400 million, while paying off £75 million, leaving £215 million currently owed.

The filing further noted £600,000 worth of sponsorship services had been provided to Ineos Automotive Ltd, part of the Ineos group owned by minority shareholder Jim Ratcliffe.

For a club chasing stability, the financial and footballing cost of this chapter will not be forgotten quickly.