SPORTING LISBON have finally appointed Ruben Amorim’s permanent successor.
The Portuguese giants announced Joao Pereira, 40, as manager just hours after the new Man Utd gaffer’s final game in charge.
Amorim, 39, officially left Sporting today but an alleged issue with his work visa permit is currently holding up his first trip to Manchester.
The 39-year-old oversaw a 4-2 comeback victory at Braga on Sunday to continue Sporting’s 100 per cent winning record in 11 league games this term.
But Sporting, who sit 11 points clear of Porto, have now formally moved on from Amorim.
The club have announced Pereira as their new boss on X with the caption: “A new armband, the same ambition.”
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Pereira, a former right-back, who played 154 games for Sporting has been involved in coaching there since his retirement from playing in 2021.
He has also won EVERY game this season while managing the club’s B team and will be unveiled to Portuguese media at noon on Monday.
Pereira was appointed Sporting’s under-23 head coach in 2022-23 after a season as the team’s assistant coach.
The former defender was capped 40 times by Portugal and also played for Valencia and Trabzonspor at club level.
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But he has big shoes to fill as Amorim leaves Sporting with two Primeira Liga titles.
Not only are Sporting unbeaten in the league this term, but they sit second in the Champions League table, behind leaders Liverpool.
Amorim has also avoided defeat in Europe this season, having most recently inflicted a 4-1 loss on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
The club are aiming to win back-to-back Portuguese league titles for the first time since 1954.
United formally hired Amorim on November 1.
But Sporting requested extra-time for Amorim to complete his final three games and join during the international break.
He replaced Erik ten Hag, who found himself under mounting pressure after a dismal 14 months at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy is set for showdown talks with Amorim to find out if he’ll remain on as an assistant.
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Amorim’s faces a trip to Ipswich Town for his first game in charge on November 24.
The Town are managed by former United assistant Kieran McKenna, who was also a contender to replace Ten Hag, and won their first Prem game since 2002 against Spurs on Sunday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
