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The Old Trafford club have announced the departure of manager their Portuguese head coach after just 14 months in charge. The announcement comes following a growing clash over January funds and even with the team's recent upturn in form.

The Final Straw

Relations between the manager and the club's football department, specifically director of football Jason Wilcox, had been strained for a period. The decisive moment is believed to have been public remarks made by the coach after the recent 1-1 draw with their rivals. He publicly challenged the recruitment team to "fulfill their responsibilities," underscoring 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 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 Struggling Reign

By the numbers, 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 league points average of a meager 1.24 in the top flight. The team lost more games than it won in 2025.

However, his final games showed glimpses of stability. United lost just one of his final eight matches and currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League table, just a narrow margin off the prized fourth place.

Final Games in Charge

• 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 official communication, 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."

Looking Ahead

In the short term, former player Darren Fletcher will assume control on an caretaker basis. He is expected to be in the technical area for the upcoming Premier League fixture against Burnley.

For the long-term position, oddsmakers and analysts are suggesting a range of potential candidates. Names in the frame include former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández, the Austrian manager, England national team boss Gareth Southgate, and another promising coach.

Fan and Pundit Reaction

The announcement has generated mixed reactions among the fanbase and observers. Some point to the poor performances and style as justification, while others argue the ownership and directors must bear a large responsibility for continuous turmoil.

A perspective 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 unreasonable to blame results when United are joint fifth in the table... They’ve beaten top sides... 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 new manager and the quest for consistency at Manchester United begins anew.