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Manchester United have terminated the contract of manager their Portuguese head coach after just 14 months in charge. The decision comes amid a reported disagreement over January funds and despite the team's recent upturn in form.

What Sparked the Decision

Relations between the manager and the club's leadership, specifically 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 their rivals. He is said to have told the recruitment team to "focus on their duties," 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 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 Miserable Tenure

By the numbers, the Portuguese manager's time at Old Trafford was undistinguished. He departs with a record of victories of under 40% and a points-per-game average of just 1.24 in the Premier League. The team lost more games than it won in 2025.

Interestingly, his final games showed some resilience. United lost just one of his final eight matches and currently sit sixth in the standings, just a narrow margin off the coveted 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 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."

The Immediate Future

In the short term, club legend the Scot will assume control on an interim basis. He is scheduled to be in the technical area for the upcoming league fixture against Burnley.

For the permanent role, bookmakers and pundits are suggesting a range of possible successors. Names being linked include Spanish tactician Xavi Hernández, Oliver Glasner, Three Lions manager Southgate, and another promising coach.

Fan and Pundit Reaction

The sacking has sparked debate among supporters and observers. Some cite the poor performances and style as valid reasons, while others believe the ownership and directors must bear a large responsibility for continuous turmoil.

One viewpoint suggests: "{Between the consistently bad performances and results, the rather abhorrent win ratio and the inflexible approach, he 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."

An alternative take states: "It seems crazy to blame results when the team 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 improved side than last year."

The search for a permanent successor and the pursuit for stability at Old Trafford begins anew.