PREMIER LEAGUE
The monumental task ahead for Amorim at Man United
Manchester United confirmed the acquisition of the Portuguese as new head coach at the Old Trafford club.
Just four days after Erik ten Hag was sacked by Manchester United, the Red Devils have confirmed their replacement with young Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim set to join the Premier League outfit on 11 November.
The 39-year-old will join United on a deal that runs through to 2027 (with an option for an additional year) after the Lisbon born coach revived Sporting Portugal’s fortunes during his four-and-a-half years in charge at the Avalade.
“Ruben is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football,” United said in a statement, adding, “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.”
United agreed to pay $11.96 million to trigger a release clause in Amorim’s contract with the Portuguese side.
Proven track record in Portugal
Amorim is regarded as one of the hottest coaching talents on the continent and has been on the radar for the likes of Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
After impressing in his short time with Braga winning ten in 13 games and seeing the side from the Minho win the Taça da Liga, he was appointed Sporting CP boss in March 2020 and immediately installing a clear playing structure and in his first season at the helm, the ‘Lions’ ended their 19-year league title in the 2020-21 season, losing just once and picking up a League Cup (Taça da Liga) trophy.
His Sporting side secured the 2023-24 Primeira Liga title losing just two league games, finishing 10 points ahead of second-placed and major city rivals SL Benfica.
Return United to the top table
The ‘red side’ of Manchester currently sit in 14th in the Premier League and have also struggled in the Europa League this season drawing all three games as they sit in 21st place currently.
Amorim becomes the seventh head coach since Alex Ferguson stepped aside in 2013 and as yet none of his replacements have come close to securing the same consistent level of glory the club enjoyed under the Scot with United winning just five trophies in the decade since ‘Fergies’ exit.
The task at hand for the Portuguese is to steady the ship and to string a series of positive results together that see United return to the upper echelons of the table this season, a place where all United fans feel they belong.
The club have spent heavily over the past years with Jose Mourinho alone spending nearly $520 million on players, and despite the investment, the Old Trafford outfit ended the 17-18 season 19 points behind the champions Man City under ‘Mou’.
Money will be available for the Portuguese to spend in the January transfer window and Sporting goal machine Viktor Gyokeres has already been heavily linked to follow the coach to the north of England in the new year.
Patience and belief are the two ingredients needed by the United faithful at present with Red Devils fans confident that they have the right man to bring back the glory days to Old Trafford.