🔗 Share this article Ruben Amorim Relieved of Duties by Manchester United. The Red Devils have parted ways with manager their Portuguese head coach after a brief and turbulent 14-month stint in charge. The decision comes in the wake of a significant clash over January funds and even with the team's recent upturn in form. The Breaking Point The relationship between the manager and the club's hierarchy, specifically director of football the recruitment chief, had been strained for some time. The decisive moment is believed to have been statements made by the coach following Sunday's 1-1 draw with Leeds United. He reportedly challenged the recruitment team to "fulfill their responsibilities," highlighting a major disagreement. "I was hired as 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, 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 top flight. The team lost more games than it won in the calendar year 2025. Paradoxically, his last matches in charge showed some resilience. United lost just one of his final eight matches and now find themselves in sixth place in the standings, just three points off the coveted 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 statement, the club framed the decision as one aimed at achieving the best possible 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, club legend Darren Fletcher will take charge on an interim basis. He is expected to be in the technical area for the upcoming league fixture against the Clarets. For the long-term position, oddsmakers and analysts are speculating a number of potential candidates. Names being linked include Spanish tactician Xavi, Oliver Glasner, England national team boss Gareth Southgate, and another promising coach. Fan and Pundit Reaction The news has provoked divided opinion among the fanbase and observers. Some cite the underwhelming performances and style as justification, while others argue the club's hierarchy must shoulder significant blame for continuous turmoil. One viewpoint suggests: "{Between the consistently bad 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 farce from beginning to end." A counter-argument states: "It seems unreasonable to blame results when the team are in the top six in the table... They’ve beaten Liverpool, Chelsea... 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 permanent successor and the pursuit for consistency at Manchester United begins anew.