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The Old Trafford club have terminated the contract of manager Ruben Amorim after just 14 months in charge. The move comes following a significant power struggle over recruitment strategy and despite the team's unbeaten run.

The Final Straw

The relationship between the manager and the club's hierarchy, particularly director of football Jason Wilcox, had been deteriorating for weeks. The immediate catalyst is believed to have been public remarks made by the coach after the recent 1-1 draw with Leeds United. He is said to have told the recruitment team to "fulfill their responsibilities," underscoring a clear disconnect.

"My role is to be 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

Statistically, the Portuguese manager's time at Old Trafford was undistinguished. He leaves with a record of victories of less than 39 per cent and a points-per-game average of a meager 1.24 in the Premier League. The team lost more games than it won in the calendar year 2025.

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

United's Position

In its official communication, the club presented the decision as one aimed at securing 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."

Looking Ahead

In the immediate aftermath, former player Darren Fletcher will assume control on an caretaker basis. He is expected to be in the dugout for the next league fixture against Burnley.

For the permanent role, bookmakers and pundits are suggesting a number of possible successors. Names being linked include former Barcelona coach Xavi, Oliver Glasner, England national team boss Southgate, and another promising coach.

The Court of Public Opinion

The news has provoked mixed reactions among the fanbase and commentators. Some cite the poor results and tactics as valid reasons, while others believe the ownership and directors must shoulder significant blame for continuous turmoil.

One viewpoint suggests: "{Between the generally poor performances and results, the rather abhorrent 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 crazy to blame results when United are joint fifth 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 pursuit for stability at Manchester United begins anew.