Rio Ferdinand admits he is ‘surprised’ by Manchester United’s decision to sack Ruben Amorim 14 months into his job as head coach.
Manchester United announced Ruben Amorim’s sacking on Monday morning, despite an improvement in performances at Old Trafford.
The news comes just three months after Sir Jim Ratcliffe gave Amorim his public backing, and it looks like his job became untenable after a bizarre post-match press conference that followed on United’s 1-1 draw with Wolves on Sunday evening.
Ruben Amorim SACKED – What is your INSTANT REACTION?
United are currently sitting 6th in the Premier League table. With Darren Fletcher likely to take charge until the end of the season, there’s still a lot at stake for the Red Devils, such as European qualification.
Several managerial candidates are expected to be linked with a move to Old Trafford over the coming months, but someone needs to ensure the players focus on results until then.
Rio Ferdinand ‘surprised’ as Man Utd sack Ruben Amorim as head coach
Amorim made the move to English football 14 months ago, after establishing himself as one of the brightest coaches emerging in European football.
The 40-year-old arrived having won two league titles at Sporting CP, adamant to play his 3-4-2-1 system, even as results worsened.
After losing the Europa League final and finishing 15th in the Premier League this season, United have seen an improvement in results and performances, albeit minimal. It could be argued that the current standings paint United in a favourable light, but that is because they have the teams around them to thank for being equally inconsistent.
Amorim amassed a tepid record of just 25 wins, 15 draws and 23 defeats in 63 games as United head coach.
Reacting to the news, former United defender Rio Ferdinand explained how he woke up ‘surprised’ by the news, but accepted that Amorim’s record as United’s worst manager of the post-Ferguson era made the decision less surprising.
Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: “They have sacked him, they have sacked him!
“I didn’t appreciate this when I woke up this morning that Ruben Amorim would be getting the sack. He was not in the four or five managers I thought would be getting the sack next.
“I am surprised but when you look at his record, in black and white, I’m not surprised. I think that has been definitive and the reason it’s been so sharp overnight [speaking out]. Two managers have spoken out against the hierarchy now and been sacked immediately. But his record is the worst of any United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson.”
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Now, the attention will turn to Fletcher’s first match as interim manager as United take on Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
Rio Ferdinand puts forward four-man shortlist for Man Utd job
Amorim has only been sacked, so it’s early days in United’s search for a new head coach.
Ferdinand took to X to put forward a list of three candidates for the United job, including one potential extra addition, which is dependent on how Fletcher performs in a caretaker capacity.
The shortlist suggested by Ferdinand includes Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Tuchel and Xavi.
Ferdinand added Fletcher as a contender if he does well for the remainder of the season.
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