🔗 Share this article Ruben Amorim Relieved of Duties by Manchester United. The Red Devils have terminated the contract of manager their Portuguese head coach after a little over a year in charge. The announcement comes in the wake of a growing disagreement over recruitment strategy and even with the team's improved league position. The Breaking Point Tensions between the manager and the club's football department, particularly director of football Jason Wilcox, had been deteriorating for a period. The decisive moment is believed to have been comments made by Amorim following Sunday's 1-1 draw with their rivals. He publicly challenged the recruitment team to "do their job," emphasizing a fundamental rift. "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 Disappointing Spell On paper, Amorim's time at Old Trafford was difficult. He leaves with a record of victories of a sub-40% win rate and a points-per-game average of just 1.24 in the Premier League. The team suffered more defeats than it won in 2025. Interestingly, his final games showed glimpses of stability. United lost just one of his final eight matches and now find themselves sixth in the standings, just a narrow margin off the prized Champions League spots. 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 release, the club presented 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." Looking Ahead In the short term, former player the Scot will take charge on an interim basis. He is expected to be in the technical area for the next Premier League fixture against Burnley. For the permanent role, oddsmakers and analysts are speculating a number of possible successors. Names being linked include former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández, Oliver Glasner, Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate, and Enzo Maresca. The Court of Public Opinion The news has sparked mixed reactions among supporters and commentators. Some cite the poor performances and style as valid reasons, while others argue the club's hierarchy 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 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 mess from start to finish." An alternative take states: "It seems crazy to blame results when the team 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 improved side than last year." The search for a new manager and the quest for stability at Manchester United begins anew.