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Manchester United have terminated the contract of manager their Portuguese head coach after a brief and turbulent 14-month stint in charge. The move comes in the wake of a growing power struggle over January funds and even with the team's unbeaten run.

The Breaking Point

Tensions between the manager and the club's hierarchy, specifically director of football Jason Wilcox, had been strained for weeks. The final trigger is believed to have been public remarks made by Amorim after the recent 1-1 draw with Leeds United. He reportedly challenged the recruitment team to "do their job," highlighting 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 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 Disappointing Spell

By the numbers, Amorim's time at Old Trafford was undistinguished. He leaves with a win ratio of less than 39 per cent and a points-per-game average of a meager 1.24 in the top flight. The team suffered more defeats than it won in 2025.

Interestingly, his last matches in charge showed a slight improvement. United were defeated only once of his final eight matches and now find themselves in sixth place in the standings, just three points off the prized fourth place.

End of an Era Results

• 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)

Club Announcement

In its statement, the club presented the decision as one aimed at securing the highest 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 short term, former player the Scot will assume control on an caretaker basis. He is expected to be in the technical area for the next league fixture against Burnley.

For the permanent role, oddsmakers and analysts are suggesting a range of potential candidates. Names in the frame include Spanish tactician Xavi Hernández, Oliver Glasner, Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate, and Enzo Maresca.

Fan and Pundit Reaction

The announcement has provoked divided opinion among supporters and observers. Some point to the underwhelming results and tactics as justification, while others believe the club's hierarchy must shoulder significant blame for continuous turmoil.

One viewpoint suggests: "{Between the generally poor performances and results, the rather abhorrent win ratio and the tactical rigidity, 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 start to finish."

An alternative take states: "It seems crazy to blame results when United are joint fifth in the table... They’ve beaten Liverpool, Chelsea... and have lost only twice since the start of October. Just watching them you can see they’re a improved side than last year."

The hunt for a new manager and the quest for consistency at Manchester United begins once again.