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The Old Trafford club have announced the departure of manager their Portuguese head coach after a brief and turbulent 14-month stint in charge. The move comes in the wake of a reported disagreement over January funds and even with the team's improved league position.

The Breaking Point

Relations between the manager and the club's hierarchy, specifically director of football Jason Wilcox, had been fracturing for some time. The final trigger is believed to have been comments made by the coach following Sunday's 1-1 draw with their rivals. He is said to have challenged the recruitment team to "focus on their duties," emphasizing a clear disconnect.

"I came here to be 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 Miserable Tenure

By the numbers, the Portuguese manager's time at the club was difficult. He leaves with a win ratio of a sub-40% win rate and a points-per-game average of 1.24 in the Premier League. The team suffered more defeats than it won in 2025.

Interestingly, his last matches in charge showed some resilience. United lost just one of his last eight matches and now find themselves in sixth place in the standings, just three points off the prized fourth place.

End of an Era Results

• 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 release, 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."

The Immediate Future

In the immediate aftermath, former player Darren Fletcher will take charge on an interim basis. He is expected to be in the dugout for the next league fixture against the Clarets.

For the long-term position, oddsmakers and analysts are suggesting a range of potential candidates. Names in the frame include Spanish tactician Xavi, Oliver Glasner, Three Lions manager Southgate, and Enzo Maresca.

The Court of Public Opinion

The news has sparked mixed reactions among supporters and commentators. Some point to the poor results and tactics as valid reasons, while others argue 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 inflexible approach, he 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 start to finish."

An alternative take states: "It seems crazy to blame results when the team are joint fifth 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 new manager and the quest for consistency at Old Trafford begins once again.