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Manchester United have terminated the contract of manager Ruben Amorim after just 14 months in charge. The decision comes following a growing power struggle over January funds and even with the team's recent upturn in form.

The Final Straw

Relations between Amorim and the club's hierarchy, specifically director of football Jason Wilcox, had been strained for weeks. The final trigger is believed to have been comments made by Amorim after the recent 1-1 draw with their rivals. He is said to have challenged the recruitment team to "focus on their duties," underscoring a major disagreement.

"I came here 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 Struggling Reign

By the numbers, the Portuguese manager's time at Old Trafford was undistinguished. 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 suffered more defeats than it won in the calendar year 2025.

Interestingly, his final games showed a slight improvement. 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 coveted 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 statement, the club framed the decision as one aimed at achieving 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."

What Comes Next?

In the immediate aftermath, former player Darren Fletcher will take charge on an caretaker 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 range of possible successors. Names in the frame include former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández, Oliver Glasner, England national team boss Gareth Southgate, and another promising coach.

Fan and Pundit Reaction

The announcement has generated debate among supporters and observers. Some cite the poor performances and style as valid reasons, while others believe the club's hierarchy must bear a large responsibility for instability.

One viewpoint suggests: "{Between the generally poor performances and results, the rather abhorrent win ratio and the inflexible approach, he 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 mess from beginning to end."

A counter-argument states: "It seems crazy to blame results when United are in the top six 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 better team than last year."

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