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The Old Trafford club have terminated the contract of manager their Portuguese head coach after a little over a year in charge. The announcement comes amid a reported clash over recruitment strategy and even with the team's unbeaten run.

The Breaking Point

Tensions between the manager and the club's football department, particularly director of football the recruitment chief, had been strained for weeks. The immediate catalyst is believed to have been public remarks made by Amorim after Sunday's 1-1 draw with their rivals. He is said to have told the recruitment team to "focus on their duties," underscoring a fundamental rift.

"I was hired as the manager of Manchester United – not to be the coach. That is clear. I know my name is not Tuchel, Mourinho or Conte 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 Struggling Reign

On paper, Amorim's time at Old Trafford was undistinguished. He departs with a win ratio of less than 39 per cent and a league points average of 1.24 in the top flight. The team suffered more defeats than it won in 2025.

Interestingly, his last matches in charge showed glimpses of stability. United lost just one of his final eight matches and currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League table, just three points off the prized fourth place.

Final Games in Charge

• 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)

United's Position

In its release, the club presented the decision as one aimed at securing the highest 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."

What Comes Next?

In the immediate aftermath, former player Darren Fletcher will take charge on an temporary basis. He is expected to be in the technical area for the upcoming league fixture against Burnley.

For the long-term position, bookmakers and pundits are suggesting a number of potential candidates. Names being linked include former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández, the Austrian manager, Three Lions manager Southgate, and another promising coach.

Fan and Pundit Reaction

The sacking has generated divided opinion among supporters and observers. Some cite the poor results and tactics as justification, while others argue the ownership and directors must bear a large responsibility for continuous turmoil.

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

A counter-argument states: "It seems unreasonable to blame results when the team are joint fifth in the table... They’ve beaten Liverpool, Chelsea... and have lost only twice since 1 October. Just watching them you can see they’re a improved side than last year."

The hunt for a permanent successor and the quest for stability at Old Trafford begins once again.