Ruben Amorim Sacked!
The Game
The Times
3.2 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 5 January 2026
⏱️ 58 minutes
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Summary
Never a club to be upstaged Manchester United sack their manager Ruben Amorim just four days after Chelsea sacked their manager Enzo Maresca.
Are both decisions a reflection of failing managers or failing hierarchy’s?
Who is in line for both jobs at two of the biggest clubs in England? And whoever gets them, who will have the tougher job – at Chelsea or Manchester United?
After the break Arsenal look like title winners, West Ham look doomed and everything at Spurs looks unhappy.
Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson, Pete Rutzler and Alyson Rudd give their verdicts on Ruben Amorim’s sacking.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to the game. |
| 0:06.0 | Football podcast from The Times and Sunday Times. |
| 0:08.7 | First Enzo Moreska and now Ruben Amarim, the Manchester United head coach sacked on Monday morning following critical comments directed at the club's hierarchy after the one or draw with Leeds. |
| 0:19.3 | It comes just days after Moreska left Chelsea following a similar and very public breakdown |
| 0:23.7 | in relations with his club, with Liam Rossignor on his way to Chelsea and United without |
| 0:27.9 | a manager. |
| 0:28.6 | What next for both of these big clubs? |
| 0:30.9 | And indeed, what is the future of the role of manager in modern football? |
| 0:35.0 | Elsewhere, Thomas Frank is booed again by Tottenham fans, Liverpool and Manchester City drop points as Arsenal go six clear at the top, and West Ham look doomed. Happy New Year, everybody. I'm Tom Clark and joining me today, we have the Senior Sports Writer and Sunday Times columnist Alison Rudd, the football reporter who covers clubs in the south with a focus on Chelsea, it's Peter Rutler, and the former footballer and journalist. Gregor Robertson here, as usual, team, wonderful to get a bit of breaking new just before we record this podcast. That is just when we like it. So let's start with that huge news out of Manchester United. Ruben Amarim sacked as their head coach. Darren Fletcher will take charge of the next game against Burnley in an interim capacity. The club's statement saying with Manchester United sitting six in the Premier League, the club's leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change. This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish. The club would like to thank Reuben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well with the future. Jokes, get out, we don't like you anymore. Here's millions and millions of pounds. Chaos again, chaos in the Premier League. Honestly, there is never a dull moment. Snap reactions to Ruben Amarin. Gone, Gregor. Right call? Bonkers? |
| 1:47.8 | I mean, it's the right call. It's been a disaster from start to finish. |
| 1:52.5 | Just in the bare numbers, like you see it doing the rounds of stats, |
| 1:57.1 | a 32% win record, the fourth worst points hall of all Premier League teams. |
| 2:01.9 | Only West Ham, Spurs and Wolves have collected fewer points in his time as manager. |
| 2:08.7 | That's not good enough for Manchester United manager. And then like, he just never gave anyone the feeling that he deserved time, investment and faith. And like, ultimately, that's, I think he kind of, I think the club realized that eventually. I think the club realized that that's I think he kind of |
| 2:18.5 | I think the club realized that eventually |
| 2:20.9 | I think that's what's been happening |
| 2:22.3 | in the last few weeks |
| 2:23.1 | he's obviously had some conversations |
| 2:24.8 | with Jason Wilcox |
| 2:26.0 | the Sporting Director about |
| 2:27.7 | tactics |
| 2:29.6 | about |
... |
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