Ruben Amorim, while never having played in the Premier League, has long been viewed as a strong candidate for a managerial role in English football. His name has been frequently associated with clubs like Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, and West Ham since he led Sporting CP to the Portuguese league title in 2021. With Manchester United now finalizing an agreement for him to join the club, Amorim finally has the opportunity to validate the high expectations surrounding him. Although the managerial shift won’t officially take effect until late November, the football world is already abuzz with speculation about his potential impact at Old Trafford.
Amorim’s measured approach to his career has paid off. Having declined previous offers from Premier League clubs, he now finds himself entrusted with one of the most prestigious—yet demanding—positions in English football. United has proven a difficult club to manage since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, with high-profile managers like Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal, and more recently, Erik ten Hag, each struggling to halt the club’s decline.
On Thursday, Amorim is anticipated to be officially announced as United’s new manager following a successful agreement between Manchester United and Sporting CP. Reports indicate the 39-year-old will remain with the Portuguese league leaders for three more games, including a UEFA Champions League clash with Manchester City next week. Following this, Amorim will assume full managerial duties at United during the international break in November, with his first official match slated to be an away game against Ipswich on November 24.
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United paid Sporting an additional one million euros above Amorim’s 10 million euro ($11 million) release clause to secure his early release. This agreement was formalized in a statement issued by Sporting to the Lisbon stock exchange on Tuesday, confirming United’s commitment to meeting Amorim’s release clause.
Amorim’s recruitment follows the departure of Erik ten Hag, who was relieved of his duties on Monday after United’s 2-1 loss to West Ham—a result that left them 14th in the Premier League standings. This decision came despite United’s substantial summer investments in new signings, a factor that intensified criticism of Ten Hag’s leadership. United’s struggle to find form has been evident, as prior to their recent League Cup win against Leicester City, they had only one victory in their last eight matches across all competitions.
Following Ten Hag’s exit, former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy stepped in as caretaker manager, leading United to a 5-2 victory over Leicester in the fourth round of the League Cup. Van Nistelrooy expressed his dedication to supporting the club, regardless of his future role, remarking:
“I came here as an assistant to help the club. I am helping as long as I am needed, and in the future, in any capacity, I am here to help the club build towards the future.”
While the specifics of Amorim’s approach at United remain to be seen, his arrival signals a potentially fresh direction for the club.
