Old Trafford never seems to lack boardroom drama.
Financial reports are bringing Manchester United’s recent issues back into focus.
Fans are still discussing where the club went wrong in the last 18 months, and the latest figures only fuel that conversation.
What seemed like a promising reset has turned into one of the club’s costliest mistakes in recent history.
Manchester United has confirmed that terminating Ruben Amorim’s contract may cost almost £16 million, according to the BBC.
The Portuguese coach was let go on January 5, a day after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Leeds United, following his public criticism of the club’s management.
Details were shared in a filing to the New York Stock Exchange, just after United announced a £32.6 million profit for the second quarter ending December 31, 2025.
This situation is classified as an “event that occurred after the reporting period,” with the club noting a £6.3 million fee for bringing Amorim from Sporting CP in November 2024 had been written off.
Additionally, a provision of £15.9 million has been earmarked as the maximum potential liability to Amorim and his coaching staff.
While the filing doesn’t specify what would trigger the full payout, insiders suggest it relates to future employment clauses.
Amorim has not publicly commented on his time at Manchester, and those close to him indicate this silence is likely to continue.
The total costs associated with Amorim’s hiring and dismissal are significant.
United had previously mentioned paying Sporting £11 million for Amorim, while Erik ten Hag’s departure cost £10.4 million.
Overall, changes related to Amorim’s joining and leaving could cost £37.3 million.
His 14-month tenure is the shortest for a permanent manager at the club since David Moyes, who was dismissed after just eight months in 2014.
Amorim won 25 of his 63 matches, led the team to a 15th-place finish in the Premier League—their worst since the 1973-74 season—and lost in the UEFA Europa League final, leaving the club without European football for only the second time since 1990.
This season also saw an embarrassing exit from the EFL Cup, as League Two side Grimsby Town eliminated United on penalties in the second round.
At the time of his firing, the club was in sixth place in the league, shortly after a reported disagreement with director of football Jason Wilcox.
Former midfielder Darren Fletcher briefly served as interim manager before Michael Carrick took over for the remainder of the season.
Carrick has since improved the team’s performance, winning five of his first six matches, including a recent victory over Everton, elevating United to fourth place and enhancing their chances for Champions League qualification.
Off the pitch, the club has announced an increase in its credit facility by £50 million to £400 million, while paying off £75 million, leaving £215 million still owed.
The filing further noted £600,000 worth of sponsorship services provided to Ineos Automotive Ltd, part of the Ineos group owned by minority shareholder Jim Ratcliffe.
For a club seeking stability, the financial and sporting consequences of this period will linger.