MANCHESTER UNITED have appointed Ruben Amorim as the club’s new head coach.
The 39-year-old Sporting boss replaces Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman’s two-and-a-half-year tenure came to an end on Monday.
Amorim will take the reigns on November 11, with his first game in the United dugout coming away at Ipswich.
The Portuguese coach has signed a deal until 2027, with the Premier League giants holding an option for an additional year.
Follow our live blog below…
Enzo – Ruud a ‘fantastic guy’
Chelsea and Enzo Maresca will go up against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s United on Sunday.
And the Blues boss can’t wait to face off with his former teammate, who is acting as interim boss at Old Trafford.
The pair spent a season together at Malaga in 2011-12.
Maresca said: “I didn’t speak with Ruud. I will give him a big hug before the game.
“We expect a tough game. Fantastic guy. Humble, very professional.
“We had a very good group of human beings with Malaga. It’s nice to remember that kind of moment.”
Credit: Getty Pep talk
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has welcomed Ruben Amorim to English football.
But he claims he has “no advice” for his crosstown rival.
Guardiola said: “Welcome to Manchester United, to England, and I congratulate him next Tuesday [when City play Sporting].
“We faced each other two or three seasons ago in the Champions League.
“No advice. I’m not the right person to give advice to colleagues.
“Not because he’s [at] United, I think they have a lot of people in United that will tell him the situation in the club, so I cannot give him advice.”
Credit: Alamy Ruud era continues
Ruud van Nistelrooy will stay on as interim boss until Amorim arrives at Old Trafford on November 11.
The former United striker will be in charge for another three matches, all of them at home.
He oversaw Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Leicester, where United ran out emphatic 5-2 winners.
- Man Utd vs Chelsea, November 3
- Man Utd vs PAOK, November 7
- Man Utd vs Leicester, November 10
Credit: Getty
Amorim on Arteta
Man Utd’s new boss will come up against Mikel Arteta and Arsenal on December 4.
It’s not the first time the two bosses have come face-to-face.
Prior to a Champions League clash between Sporting and the Gunners last year, Amorim declared he was full of admiration for the Spaniard.
And he preached the need for fans to have patience in the modern game.
Amorim said: “Arteta is a [good] example because he was able to withstand the pressure, which is unbearable for a team in the Premier League.
“Now he is bearing the fruits. It is important for fans to understand that to pick up the fruits from your work, you have to wait.”
Credit: AFP Sporting statement
Portuguese champions Sporting CP have confirmed how much Man Utd have spent to take Ruben Amorim to Old Trafford.
A statement from the club read: “Sporting SAD has reached an agreement with Manchester United FC regarding terms and conditions of coach Ruben Amorim’s departure, in return for which MUFC will pay Sporting SAD Euro 11,000,000 (£9.2million).”
“Furthermore, Sporting SAD will have a benefit of Euro 1,658,000 (£1.4m) relating to the extinction of credit rights, recorded as liabilities and contingent liabilities, as a result of the revocation and renegotiation of contracts relating to intermediation fees.”
Credit: PA Friends reunited
United fans are keen to see if Ruben Amorim can kickstart Manuel Ugarte’s Old Trafford career.
The midfielder excelled under the 39-year-old at Sporting before earning a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Ugarte has appeared just four times for United this season since joining from PSG in the summer.
Credit: Getty Dalot excited to work with ‘perfect match’ Amorim
Man Utd’s Diogo Dalot is the first player to comment following the arrival of new boss Ruben Amorim.
Dalot told Sky Sports: “He is a fantastic coach and knows what he wants. Very demanding is what I can expect.
“It’s a perfect match for a club like this. He has high standards and I hope it can be a good match. I hope we can win together.
“The Premier League suits people from Portugal. We have a culture of constantly trying to improve ourselves as we come from a small country.
“I really hope that it is one more case. I am really excited to start working with him.”
First five
Amorim’s first game will be on the road against Ipswich on November 24.
The 39-year-old’s first test at Old Trafford will come just four days later against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.
Games against Everton, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest follow in a typically quickfire Premier League winter schedule.
Trusted team
United could also splash another £4.1million to bring Amorim’s coaching staff to Old Trafford.
The Portuguese giants want extra cash to release three trusted members of the tactician’s backroom staff
Amorim wants to take Sporting’s assistant manager Adelio Candido, assistant coach Carlos Fernandes and goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital with him to Manchester.
Credit: AP
Stat attack
Ruben Amorin only began his managerial journey in the summer of 2018.
Just six years later, he’s heading to one of the most successful clubs in English football.
Money talks
Man Utd have paid an extra £900,000 to Sporting – so they can land Ruben Amorim three weeks early.
The Portuguese club initially demanded the 39-year-old stay for a one-month notice period.
SunSport understands Old Trafford bosses were so keen to get Amorim through the door before the international break that they shelled out almost £1m in extra compensation.
Credit: EPA Dio in demand
SunSport understands Ruben Amorim wants to bring £70million Ousmane Diomande with him to Man Utd.
One of Europe’s most in-demand young defenders, landing Diomande would be a major coup for United.
He’s previously been chased by Liverpool and Arsenal, with Bayern Munich also linked.
Credit: Getty Three and out
Despite Amorim pledging his future to Man Utd, he will remain in the dugout with Sporting CP for three more games.
All eyes will be on Tuesday night’s visit of Manchester City in the Champions League, which comes after a home clash tonight with Estrela Amadora.
Amorim will be hoping to leave the club on a high after a Lisbon derby against Benfica on November 10.
Credit: AFP United statement in full
The Red Devils have their man – and he’ll be in the building from November 11.
“Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Ruben Amorim as Head Coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements.
“He will join until June 2027 with a club option of an additional year, once he has fulfilled his obligations to his current club. He will join Manchester United on Monday 11 November.
“Ruben is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football.
“Highly decorated as both a player and coach, his titles include winning the Primeira Liga twice in Portugal with Sporting CP; the first of which was the club’s first title in 19 years.
“Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take charge of the team until Ruben joins.”
Amorim’s first game
With the new boss confirmed to arrive in just 10 days, United fans can look forward to Amorim’s opening match.
But they will have to wait a few weeks yet before seeing their new boss on the touchline.
Amorim’s first game will be a trip to Ipswich Town on Sunday, November 24, after the upcoming international break.
Credit: Getty
Devil in the detail
Man Utd’s statement on Ruben Amorim has revealed they are giving him a different job title to Erik ten Hag.
The 39-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at Old Trafford after the Dutchman was sacked on Monday.
Credit: Getty Amorim’s start date
United have confirmed Amorim will join up with Man Utd on Monday, November 11.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue as interim manager and take charge of Sunday’s game against Chelsea.
Credit: EPA AMORIM CONFIRMED
Manchester United have confirmed Ruben Amorim has joined the club as their new manager.
The 39-year-old has put pen to paper on a deal running until June 2027, with a club option of an additional year.
Credit: X Ten Hag ‘completely devastated’
Erik ten Hag has returned to the Netherlands after Monday’s sacking.
His former teammate Hans Kraay has revealed the former United boss is “ruined” after his time at Old Trafford was cut short.
Speaking to Dutch outlet SoccerNews, Kraay said: “I understand he is getting £15million and people will think he is somersaulting through Manchester.
“No, he is completely, completely devastated, he is completely ruined.
“At the moment you don’t think about money. That will come later.”
Credit: AFP Deco’s warning
Ruben Amorim was touted as a potential successor to Xavi at Barcelona back in February.
But Barca sporting director Deco was not convinced the 39-year-old had the relevant experience to manage at the very top.
Deco told Nascer do Sol earlier this year: “How many Portuguese coaches are prepared for the weight and responsibility of taking charge of Barcelona, especially Barcelona with all the difficulties it faces?
“I know that Ruben Amorim is doing a good job at Sporting and that, on top of that, he plays with a style similar to ours.
“But he also has very little experience.”
Credit: Getty Ruud – Ten Hag ‘hurt’ after sack
Man Utd’s interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed Erik ten Hag’s “hurt” after losing his job on Monday.
The Dutchman won two trophies with the club after joining in April 2022.
But he leaves United languishing 14th in the Premier League after a dismal start to the season.
Van Nistelrooy said: “He is very disappointed and touched. I really felt he loved and cared for the club.
“He wanted to bring this club forward and that’s why we connected.
“That is why it hurt that he had to leave, but he was also proud of the achievements with the club winning two cups.”
Credit: Reuters
Dalot – ‘We’ll be ready’
Man Utd’s players are keeping a close eye on developments from Portugal today.
Diogo Dalot has admitted the team have “seen the rumours” regarding Amorim’s future.
He said: “Obviously he’s a good manager, we don’t know if he’s coming.
“We see the rumours like you, like everybody we see it.
“But we will just focus on what we have here, doing our job and what the future brings. We’ll be ready.”
Credit: Getty Amorim ‘betrayal’
Ruben Amorim’s imminent move to Manchester United has not gone down well with former Sporting president Jose Dias Ferreira.
He told Portuguese outlet Sic Noticias: “I have great admiration for Amorim.
“For everything he did for Sporting. [But] his departure leaves me disappointed.
“As a Sporting fan, I can truly say that it is a betrayal.
“Because betrayal is not just stabbing someone in the back. Betrayal is not fulfilling promises, commitments or principles.”
Credit: Getty Agbonlahor – ‘Utd have got right man’
Former Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor did his coaching badges with Ruben Amorim.
And he believes the 39-year-old is exactly the right man to turn United back into Premier League challengers.
Agbonlahor told talkSPORT: “I did do my coaching badges with him.
“You could tell he was so into it in a way that he had to get his badges to go and start managing…he was very focused.
“Since the start of last season, Sporting Lisbon have scored the most goals in the top six leagues.
“They were waiting 19 years to win a title, he goes there and they’ve won two in the last five seasons…
“United have got the right man.”
Seeing red
Sporting Lisbon star striker Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly been left unhappy with Amorim’s upcoming exit.
The ex-Coventry forward has netted 41 goals in 44 games since joining the club in 2023.
He turned down offers this summer to leave, reportedly as he was “enticed” to continue working with Amorim.
Speaking to SportTV, Gyokeres said: “He’s here and that’s what I’m focused on, let’s see what happens.
“He’s still here, so I’m not going to wear myself out.”
Credit: Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
