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The Red Devils have announced the departure of manager their Portuguese head coach after just 14 months in charge. The move comes amid a reported power struggle over recruitment strategy and even with the team's unbeaten run.

What Sparked the Decision

The relationship between the manager and the club's football department, particularly director of football the recruitment chief, had been strained for a period. The decisive moment is believed to have been public remarks made by the coach following Sunday's 1-1 draw with Leeds United. He publicly challenged the recruitment team to "fulfill their responsibilities," highlighting 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 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 Disappointing Spell

By the numbers, Amorim's time at Old Trafford was poor. He departs with a win ratio of less than 39 per cent and a points-per-game average of just 1.24 in the Premier League. The team lost more games than it won in 2025.

However, his final games showed some resilience. United lost just one of his last eight matches and currently sit in sixth place in the standings, just three points 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)

United's Position

In its official communication, the club framed 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."

What Comes Next?

In the immediate aftermath, club legend the Scot will take charge on an caretaker basis. He is expected to be in the dugout for the next league fixture against Burnley.

For the long-term position, bookmakers and analysts are suggesting a number of potential candidates. Names in the frame include former Barcelona coach Xavi, Oliver Glasner, England national team boss Southgate, and Enzo Maresca.

The Court of Public Opinion

The announcement has sparked divided opinion among supporters and observers. Some point to the underwhelming results and tactics as valid reasons, while others believe the club's hierarchy must shoulder significant blame for instability.

One viewpoint suggests: "{Between the consistently bad performances and results, the very low win ratio and the tactical rigidity, Amorim 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 unreasonable to blame results when the team are joint fifth in the table... They’ve beaten Liverpool, Chelsea... 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 new manager and the quest for stability at Old Trafford begins anew.