Man Utd’s eye-watering bill to sack failed managers as Ruben Amorim fee emerges

Ruben Amorim is under more pressure than ever at Manchester United, with the Red Devils having won just one of their opening five matches in all competitions and losing Sunday’s derby 3-0

Manchester United will’ve spent an eye-watering £84.7million on sacking managers if they decide to axe Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils boss effectively has three games to save his job, having collected only one win so far this season.

United’s late 3-2 victory at home to Burnley before the international break remains their only high point in the 2025-26 campaign, which for Amorim has gotten off to a nightmare start. After being backed with £216m worth of new signings during the summer transfer window, the Portuguese is still struggling for positive results.

Sunday’s 3-0 drubbing in the Manchester derby only weakened his case to stay on as manager, and he could join the long line of bosses who’ve failed to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford. That’s because sacking Amorim would cost United a staggering £12m in compensation, according to the Mail.

That’s more than the £10.6m which the Red Devils paid Sporting Lisbon to bring the 40-year-old in a mere 10 months ago. Amorim would become the seventh manager to be sacked by United – and receive a healthy compensation package – since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

The first casualty of the post-Ferguson era was David Moyes. The current Everton boss was axed in April 2014, just nine months into his six-year contract at Old Trafford, costing the club £5.2m.

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Louis van Gaal was his replacement, managing two seasons at the helm. Despite winning the FA Cup in May 2016, Ed Woodward and Co. made the ruthless decision to sack the Dutch boss, paying him £8.4m.

Jose Mourinho was next in the hot seat, and his sacking remains the most costly. In December 2018, following a below-par start to his third season, the Special One was given his marching orders and paid a cool £19.6m after lifting three trophies during his tumultuous tenure.

After a remarkable period as interim manager, United hoped that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would finally be the solution. Although the Red Devils legend lasted nearly four years in charge, the longest of anyone since Ferguson’s departure, he was reluctantly axed for £10m in November 2021.

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Old Trafford chiefs changed tack with their next appointment, bringing Ralf Rangnick in as an interim manager. The plan was for the acclaimed German coach to become a consultant from May 2022, but he and the hierarchy didn’t see eye-to-eye regarding his successor, and Rangnick was dismissed for a cool £15m.

Finally – at least for now – Erik ten Hag’s exit cost United £14.5m. Despite having his contract extended last summer, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the club’s new-look hierarchy decided enough was enough in November 2024 and turned to Amorim.

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