Well folks, like Manchester United, we have "reluctantly" decided that it's "the right time" to bring this live to an end.

It's been a big one. Thanks for joining us as we reacted to the shock sacking of Ruben Amorim.

Was it a shock? Not if you were listening carefully to his Friday press conference, when Amorim issued a cryptic ultimatum to the board, inviting them either to back him in the transfer window or bin him off.

The club chose to do the latter and sources cited a lack of evidence of evolution as the key factor in their decision.

Meanwhile, BBC Sport Manchester United reporter Simon Stone put the dismissal down to a difference in interpretation of the suggestions which were handed to Amorim by the club leadership - was it overbearing 'interference' or standard 'feedback'?

Spurs manager Thomas Frank wouldn't guess what had gone on behind the scenes, but did observe that "alignment" between head coach, leadership and ownership is the key ingredient for success.

Then former Man Utd striker Michael Owen weighed in to say it was "probably the right call".

'Disgrace' was a popular word among the Man Utd fans who texted into the BBC (there were a lot of you - though I'm not sure the Yorkshireman who wrote in to suggest Big Steve Bruce necessarily had the club's best interests at heart).

All this after Sir Jim Ratcliffe said in March 2025 that he saw Amorim being part of the club "for a long time".

What a difference nine months can make.

For now, the club is in the hands of 2007-2008 Champions League winner Darren Fletcher, before he hands over to an as yet unknown caretaker manager until the end of the season, when a permanent manager will be appointed in good time to prepare for the 2026-2027 Premier League season.

Who will that be? There's some big names in the list of out-of-work managers - but the list will be bigger at the end of the 2026 World Cup.

Whether you're a believer in the 3-4-3 or a four-at-the-back fan, we thank you for joining us today. If you want more on Amorim's exit, what it means for the club, and who could fill his shoes, there's more to come elsewhere:

Tune into Monday Night Club from 19:00 GMT as Chris Sutton, Rory Smith, and Izzy Christiansen join Mark Chapman to react to the sacking. Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds or watch on BBC iPlayer and YouTube, external.

From 18:00 GMT, there's a two-hour Total Sport special as BBC Radio Manchester discuss the news live.

And we'll be back tomorrow with the very latest from managers across the Premier League, including - maybe - Darren Fletcher.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

In case you've only recently been able to join us and are playing catch-up, here's everything you need to know following Manchester United's decision to sack Ruben Amorim - with links to take you to all the right places:

• Manchester United have sacked manager Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge.
• Manchester United said in a statement the decision has been made "reluctantly" and "it is the right time to make a change".
• With United sixth in the Premier League, sources have told BBC Sport that the club felt there had been insufficient evidence of evolution or progress.
• On Sunday, Amorim hinted he was not happy with the level of interference from the Manchester United board.
• That was after Amorim had reportedly had a particularly negative meeting with director of football Jason Wilcox on Friday.
• Former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been appointed interim manager and will take charge for Wednesday's match at Burnley.
• United hope to appoint a caretaker manager until the end of the season but will wait to appoint a new permanent boss in the summer.
• Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has admirers at the club, former Chelsea boss Enzo maresca could emerge as a candidate, while ex-England manager Gareth Southgate has been previously linked with the job.
• Amorim was spotted out on a walk, with a smile on his face, following his dismissal.
• Read a full timeline of Amorim's stint as Manchester United manager.

Ailsa Cowen
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The New Year proved to be the calm before the storm for two Premier League managers, Ruben Amorim and Enzo Marseca. Within the opening week of 2026, both found themselves out of work - and there's now noise about Maresca's interest to Man Utd given past links with Jason Wilcox.

Their departures share some striking similarities. Both struggled to meet expectations on the pitch, found it hard to get their playing style to click, and didn’t shy away from airing their frustrations with their club’s hierarchy.

At Manchester United, Amorim's insistence on a 3-4-3 formation rarely worked. He also criticised the club’s recruitment strategy, making it clear he saw himself as a manager, not just a head coach, and felt frustrated by a lack of support in the transfer market.

Marseca faced a similar story at Chelsea. Inconsistent league form saw the club slip out of the top-four race, while tensions reportedly grew with the board and medical staff over player fitness. With only eight league wins this season, Chelsea look a long way from the team that lifted the FIFA Club World Cup last year.

Given the parallels, it wouldn’t be surprising if Amorim and Maresca meet for a coffee soon, swapping stories about stubborn formations, lost clean sheets, and the odd Premier League surprise.

Speaking about Ruben Amorim in March last year, Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe described the Portuguese coach as an "outstanding young manager" who could stay at the club "for a long time".

How quickly things can change, eh?

Jamie Carragher
Former Liverpool defender on Sky Sports

What we're seeing in football now is sporting directors are the most powerful people. And if managers step out of line and call out people above them it's going to have consequences.

It shows where the game's going with the sporting directors of Chelsea and Manchester United are not accepting managers criticising them or making cryptic messages in public.

Mikael Silvestre
Former Manchester United defender on Sky Sports

People like me, as fans, would like to understand what is happening and why Ruben [Amorim] was let go.

The last man standing [as a manager] in England for sure was Jose Mourinho, and before that was Arsene Wenger. But the days of the manager running it and talking to the owners about action to take are over.

It's a number of people [now]. It's completely different to what it used to be.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United under-18s made a strong start to their first season under head coach Darren Fletcher, who took charge in July.

In August, the Carrington outfit beat Brighton 4-0 in the U18 Premier League Cup, with their three quickfire second-half goals exemplifying the essence of the club which Fletcher hoped to instil in the young team.

"The fast attacks, it's proper United," Fletcher said in a post-match interview.

"I've been showing them old clips of Rooney, Ronaldo, Ji Sung-Park counter-attack goals. Giggs and Kanchelskis. Trying to show a little bit of that Man Utd DNA. And that came out today which is fantastic.

"If teams want to come and have a go at us, we've got the ability to play around them. And if they want to leave a high line against the players we've got in the final third we can be devastating."

Manchester United

Image source, Getty Images

For the time being, it's over to Manchester United interim manager Darren Fletcher.

Speaking back in 2019, on Manchester United's official podcast, the former Reds midfielder said this about his coaching targets: "No different to being a player, when I wanted to be a player I wanted to play for the biggest club in the world and best club in the world.

"That's what I set my sights on and I fortunately managed to do that at Manchester United.

"Then when I take my steps on the management ladder, my goal is to become Manchester United manager because that's the pinnacle for me.

"Nothing tops that, nothing's bigger. Whether you get there or not is a different story. There's only one person, there's not many manager jobs around, as you realise."

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has followed Harry Maguire in posting a message dedicated to Ruben Amorim after he was sacked by the club earlier today.

The Portuguese midfielder wrote on his Instagram: "Thank you, sir! I wish you and your technical staff all the best."

Image source, Getty Images

How will Manchester United fare in the coming weeks following this huge decision at a crucial point in the campaign?

There are some huge games on the horizon as they seek to maintain hopes of silverware and European football alive.

Image source, Getty Images

While Manchester United attempt to work out their next steps, Ruben Amorim was pictured out and about on a leisurely stroll earlier today with a big smile on his face.

I wonder where we might see him next?

Image source, Eamonn & James Clarke

Image source, Eamonn & James Clarke

Image source, Eamonn & James Clarke

Image source, Eamonn & James Clarke

Image source, Eamonn & James Clarke

Image source, Getty Images

After Darren Fletcher has overseen Manchester United's Premier League match at Burnley on Wednesday, the club hope to have their new caretaker manager appointed.

Should that person be safely in position by the end of the week, their first task will be to take Manchester United into the fourth round of the FA Cup when they host Brighton on Sunday.

The FA Cup is Manchester United's final hope of silverware this season following their League Cup exit to League Two Grimsby and failure to qualify for Europe.

There are then difficult fixtures against champions Manchester City and leaders Arsenal to come in the league before the end of January.

United are four points behind fourth-placed Liverpool in the Premier League's final guaranteed Champions League position - although fifth could once again also provide a place in Europe's elite club competition.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty

Former Manchester United first team coach Rene Meulensteen, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, has said on the club's situation: "I don't think now that it needs much to fix it, I really don't think it does. You just need to put the players in the system that the players can play to their strengths, and this could happen very, very, very quickly.

"The advantage of Darren Fletcher taking over as interim is two or three-fold. He knows the club. He's been under a very successful coach so he knows what one looks like and he's also been in a culture now which is not successful, so he knows what's wrong, what to fix in the short term.

"What you need to fix is the team. The set-up of the team. The culture within and around the team. But especially the set up of the team - find the right places for the players, the right strategy and tactics in which the players can express themselves in a way that is the Manchester United style.

"And if they do that, if the results come, things can turn really, really, really quickly."

We know that Manchester United's under-18s manager Darren Fletcher will take charge for Wednesday's game against Burnley, following Ruben Amorim's departure.

The club then intends to appoint a caretaker manager for the rest of the season - and it is understood that person will notbe Fletcher.

United are planning to wait and appoint their next permanent manager in the summer.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Bosnich
Former Manchester United goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

When there is a sacking at a football club, there is always a portion of the dressing room that deep down will be a little bit relieved. I wouldn't say happy because you are never happy in my opinion when someone loses their job but because they may not be in the magic circle and may not be starting or getting on with the manager.

There will be others that have been brought in by the manager that will be highly disappointed but survival kicks in then for players because they know if things aren't going particularly well that they have to keep their performances up or they will be next, especially now in a World Cup year.

You normally see an uplift but the results will tell a story in the next couple of games how exactly the players are feeling in terms of the decision. Generally, not always, players look to look after themselves and make sure they are ok.

One win in their past five. Just three in the last 11.

Ruben Amorim leaves Manchester United in sixth position, with eight wins from their 20 Premier League games this season.

Before we leave you this evening, we'll take a look at what comes next for United - on and off the pitch...

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire is the first player from the current squad to post a message following the sacking of Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge at Old Trafford.

The England international posted an image of himself with his former head coach on Instagram with the caption: "Thank you for everything boss.

"I wish you all the best in the future."

Image source, Getty Images

Among the 17 ever-present Premier League sides since Ruben Amorim's appointment at Old Trafford in November 2024, only three clubs have won fewer points than Manchester United.