Soccer

Manchester United announce appointment of Rúben Amorim as head coach

The 39-year-old is joining from Sporting, where he won two league titles and two league cups

Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim. Photograph: PA
Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim. Photograph: PA
Fri Nov 01 2024 - 12:10

Manchester United have announced that Rúben Amorim is to take over as their head coach on November 11th, at the start of the international break. The 39-year-old is joining from Sporting, where he won two league titles and two league cups in four full seasons.

“Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Rúben Amorim as head coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements,” the club said. “He has signed a contract until June 2027 with a club option of an additional year. He will join Manchester United on Monday 11 November once he has fulfilled his obligations with Sporting CP.

“Rúben 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 Rúben joins.”

Amorim was swiftly identified as United’s favoured candidate after Erik ten Hag was sacked with the club 14th in the Premier League. Sporting announced on Tuesday that United had approached them and expressed a willingness to pay the €10m (£8.3m) release clause but the move was held up by negotiations regarding his 30-day notice period. A compromise was agreed for Amorim to continue at Sporting until after their game against Braga on 10 November.

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It is understood United have not spoken to any other coaches and were aware of the notice period before they opened talks and are pleased to have curtailed the extra time Amorim has to spend with Sporting. He is expected to bring five backroom staff with him but confirmation of his coaching team will not come on Friday.

Amorim had been on Manchester City’s radar as they plan for Pep Guardiola’s possible departure and a home Champions League game against City on Tuesday is among his final three matches with Sporting. Amorim, who held talks with West Ham this year, had a short spell as Braga’s head coach before taking the Sporting job in March 2020.

He is regarded by United as an ideal candidate because of his playing style, personality and capacity to develop young players.

Van Nistelrooy will continue for three more home games – against Chelsea on Sunday, Paok on Thursday and Leicester on November 10th – before handing over. Amorim is the sixth permanent manager or head coach appointed since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in May 2013. None of the previous five remained in position for three full seasons.

Current United defender Diogo Dalot described Amorim as “a fantastic coach” and said Portuguese coaches had a habit of being successful in the Premier League.

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. 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.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has welcomed the entrance of his new cross-town rival but does not feel he should be offering him advice on life in the Premier League.

Guardiola will actually come up against Amorim next week when he takes his City side to Lisbon to face Sporting in the Champions League.

Guardiola said: “Welcome to United, to England. I congratulate him. I’m not the right person to give advice to my colleagues. Not because he’s United but they have a lot of people at United who can give him information about the situation at the club.”

Ipswich will be Amorim’s first opponents as United boss when they travel to Portman Road on November 24th. — Guardian