Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said he was saddened by the dismissal of Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, describing the episode as another reminder of the unforgiving nature of football management.
Amorim was relieved of his duties on Monday after 14 months in charge at Old Trafford, following a period of strained relations with senior club officials, including director of football Jason Wilcox. His departure came despite earlier assurances from United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe that the Portuguese coach would be given time, drawing comparisons with Arteta’s own long-term project at Arsenal.
Speaking on Wednesday ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Liverpool, Arteta reflected on the pressures managers face at the top level.
“It’s always difficult to see a colleague lose his job,” Arteta said. “I can only speak from my own experience, but this profession can be very harsh.”
Arteta’s comments come as Arsenal enjoy a strong campaign, sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League table as they pursue their first league title in more than two decades. Manchester United, meanwhile, are sixth and 17 points behind the north London side.
Amorim’s spell at United proved turbulent, with the former Sporting Lisbon coach recording 25 wins from 63 matches in all competitions. It was the shortest tenure of a permanent United manager since David Moyes was dismissed in 2014.
Arteta stressed the importance of backing from all levels of a club, noting that success is often the ultimate measure of job security.
“You need support from the owners, from your staff and from the players,” he said. “But in the end, results decide everything. You have to win matches, and that is the reality of this job.”
