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The Old Trafford club have terminated the contract of manager their Portuguese head coach after just 14 months in charge. The move comes amid a reported power struggle over January funds and despite the team's recent upturn in form.

The Final Straw

The relationship between Amorim and the club's leadership, particularly director of football the recruitment chief, had been deteriorating for a period. The immediate catalyst is believed to have been public remarks made by Amorim after the recent 1-1 draw with their rivals. He reportedly challenged the recruitment team to "fulfill their responsibilities," emphasizing a major disagreement.

"I was hired as the manager of Manchester United – not to be the coach. That is clear. I know my name is not among the elite names 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 Miserable Tenure

Statistically, the Portuguese manager's time at Old Trafford was difficult. He leaves with a record of victories of a sub-40% win rate and a league points average of 1.24 in the top flight. The team suffered more defeats than it won in the calendar year 2025.

However, his last matches in charge showed some resilience. United lost just one of his last eight matches and currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, just a narrow margin off the coveted Champions League spots.

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)

Official Statement

In its release, the club presented the decision as one aimed at achieving the best possible seasonal position.

"With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club’s leadership has after careful consideration 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 immediate aftermath, club legend Darren Fletcher will take charge on an temporary basis. He is scheduled to be in the dugout for the next league fixture against the Clarets.

For the permanent role, bookmakers and pundits are suggesting a number of potential candidates. Names in the frame include Spanish tactician Xavi Hernández, the Austrian manager, England national team boss Gareth Southgate, and another promising coach.

Fan and Pundit Reaction

The news has provoked divided opinion among the fanbase and commentators. Some cite the poor results and tactics as justification, while others argue the club's hierarchy must shoulder significant blame for continuous turmoil.

One viewpoint suggests: "{Between the generally poor performances and results, the very low win ratio and the inflexible approach, Amorim 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 farce from beginning to end."

A counter-argument states: "It seems unreasonable to blame results when the team 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 better team than last year."

The hunt for a new manager and the quest for stability at Manchester United begins anew.