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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 move comes amid a growing disagreement over recruitment strategy and despite the team's unbeaten run.

The Breaking Point

Relations between Amorim and the club's football department, particularly director of football the recruitment chief, had been deteriorating for a period. The final trigger is believed to have been public remarks made by the coach after Sunday's 1-1 draw with their rivals. He reportedly challenged the recruitment team to "do their job," highlighting 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 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 Disappointing Spell

Statistically, the Portuguese manager's time at Old Trafford was difficult. He departs with a win ratio of less than 39 per cent and a league points average of a meager 1.24 in the top flight. The team lost more games than it won in 2025.

Interestingly, his final games showed some resilience. United were defeated only once of his final eight matches and now find themselves in sixth place in the Premier League table, just a narrow margin off the prized fourth place.

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 official communication, the club presented the decision as one aimed at securing 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 immediate aftermath, former player the Scot will assume control on an interim basis. He is expected to be in the technical area for the next Premier League fixture against the Clarets.

For the permanent role, oddsmakers and pundits are speculating a number of potential candidates. Names being linked include Spanish tactician Xavi, Oliver Glasner, England national team boss Southgate, and another promising coach.

Fan and Pundit Reaction

The news has generated debate among the fanbase and commentators. Some cite 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 consistently bad performances and results, the very low win ratio and the inflexible approach, 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 farce from start to finish."

An alternative take states: "It seems crazy to blame results when the team are in the top six 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 search for a new manager and the pursuit for stability at Old Trafford begins anew.