🔗 Share this article

The Red Devils have terminated the contract of manager Ruben Amorim after a brief and turbulent 14-month stint in charge. The decision comes in the wake of a reported clash over transfer policy and despite the team's improved league position.

The Breaking Point

Tensions between Amorim and the club's hierarchy, particularly director of football Jason Wilcox, had been fracturing for some time. The decisive moment is believed to have been public remarks made by the coach following Sunday's 1-1 draw with their rivals. He reportedly told the recruitment team to "do their job," emphasizing a major disagreement.

"My role is to be 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

By the numbers, the Portuguese manager's time at the club was difficult. He leaves with a win ratio of under 40% and a league points average of just 1.24 in the top flight. The team lost more games than it won in 2025.

Interestingly, his final games showed a slight improvement. United lost just one of his final eight matches and currently sit sixth in the standings, just three points 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)

United's Position

In its release, the club framed the decision as one aimed at achieving 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."

The Immediate Future

In the short term, club legend Darren Fletcher will assume control on an caretaker basis. He is scheduled to be in the technical area for the next Premier League fixture against the Clarets.

For the long-term position, bookmakers and pundits are suggesting a range of possible successors. Names being linked include former Barcelona coach Xavi, Oliver Glasner, Three Lions manager Southgate, and Enzo Maresca.

The Court of Public Opinion

The sacking has generated divided opinion among the fanbase and commentators. Some cite the poor performances and style as justification, while others believe the ownership and directors must bear a large responsibility 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 mess from beginning to end."

A counter-argument states: "It seems unreasonable to blame results when United 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 search for a permanent successor and the pursuit for stability at Manchester United begins anew.