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The Red Devils have terminated the contract of manager their Portuguese head coach after a little over a year in charge. The move comes following a reported disagreement over recruitment strategy and despite the team's unbeaten run.

What Sparked the Decision

Tensions between Amorim and the club's leadership, specifically director of football the recruitment chief, had been strained for some time. The final trigger is believed to have been comments made by Amorim following Sunday's 1-1 draw with their rivals. He is said to have told the recruitment team to "fulfill their responsibilities," underscoring a fundamental rift.

"My role is to be the manager of Manchester United – not to be the coach. That is clear. I know my name is not a household giant but I’m the manager. It’s going to be like this for 18 months or until the board decide to change. I’m not going to quit, I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me."

A Disappointing Spell

On paper, the Portuguese manager's time at the club was difficult. He departs with a record of victories of a sub-40% win rate and a league points average of a meager 1.24 in the Premier League. The team lost more games than it won in 2025.

Paradoxically, his last matches in charge showed some resilience. United lost just one of his last eight matches and now find themselves in sixth place in the Premier League table, just three points off the coveted Champions League spots.

The Last Five Matches

• 4-4 draw vs Bournemouth (Home)
• 2-1 loss vs Aston Villa (Away)
• 1-0 win vs Newcastle United (Home)
• 1-1 draw vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (Home)
• 1-1 draw vs Leeds United (Away)

Official Statement

In its release, the club framed the decision as one aimed at achieving the best possible league finish.

"With Manchester United sitting sixth 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 Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future."

The Immediate Future

In the short term, former player Darren Fletcher will take charge on an interim basis. He is scheduled to be in the technical area for the upcoming Premier League fixture against the Clarets.

For the long-term position, bookmakers and pundits are speculating a range of possible successors. Names being linked include Spanish tactician Xavi, the Austrian manager, England national team boss Gareth Southgate, and Enzo Maresca.

Fan and Pundit Reaction

The announcement has sparked mixed reactions among the fanbase and commentators. Some point to the poor performances and style as justification, while others believe the club's hierarchy must bear a large responsibility for continuous turmoil.

One viewpoint suggests: "{Between the generally poor performances and results, the rather abhorrent win ratio and the tactical rigidity, he has no one else to blame but himself... INEOS and their ‘best-in-class’ claims should, however, feel a large brunt of the fan’s rage; this was a mess from start to finish."

A counter-argument states: "It seems crazy to blame results when United are in the top six in the table... They’ve beaten top sides... and have lost only twice since 1 October. Just watching them you can see they’re a improved side than last year."

The search for a new manager and the quest for consistency at Manchester United begins anew.