Manchester United officially sacked head coach Rúben Amorim on January 5, 2026, following disappointing results. The decision came just one day after a 1–1 draw against Leeds United, which proved to be Amorim’s final match in charge. His dismissal adds to Manchester United’s ongoing struggles to find long-term stability under a manager. Students around campus had mixed reactions to the decision, with some believing the club made a major mistake by letting Amorim go just as results were beginning to improve.
According to 10th grader Diego Mazo, the timing of the dismissal was the biggest issue. “They did the wrong thing because he was starting to get better results and was fifth in the Premier League,” Mazo said. “This could have been a season where they finished in the top six.”
Mazo placed most of the blame on the club’s ownership, specifically the Glazer family. The Glazers are an American billionaire family who bought Manchester United in 2005 through a company called Red Football Ltd. The family built their fortune mainly through real estate and sports; they also own the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Diego Mazo explained that Amorim was promised full trust and January signings, only for that support to be withdrawn. “They told him he wasn’t getting the signings and that he had to change his system,” Mazo said. “At that point, he left with dignity.”
Others agreed that leadership at the club continues to be a major problem. Fellow sophomore Christophe Acheampong criticized Manchester United’s lack of patience with its leaders. “Ten managers in the last thirteen years is embarrassing,” he said. “You can’t build anything like that.”
Sophomore Pablo Lopez also pointed out that frequent managerial changes often lead to short-term struggles. “When a new manager comes in, results usually drop while the team adjusts,” he said. “That just makes it feel like another repeat of last season.”
Despite the instability, some players have still stood out. One name mentioned repeatedly was Kobbie Mainoo, who has been one of United’s most consistent performers. “Mainoo is one of the few players who actually looks calm every game,” Lopez said. “He plays like the pressure doesn’t affect him.”
When asked whether a different manager could have achieved better results with this squad, Diego Mazo strongly disagreed. “A different manager wouldn’t have done better,” he said. “Amorim was the manager they needed because he’s an actual coach who sticks to his system, not a ‘yes-man’ who does whatever the Glazers want.” Mazo also suggested that Amorim’s comments about trust may have played a role in his dismissal. “It feels like he got fired more for speaking out than for his performances,” he said.
As Manchester United begins yet another search for a new manager, students believe real improvement will only come with structural change. Many feel the club must move on from its current ownership and commit to trusting a manager long-term if it wants to return to consistent success.