Why isn’t Ruben Amorim coaching Manchester United against Leicester? When is his first game?

Ruud van Nistelrooy takes interim charge of Manchester United for the fourth and final time against Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday, with Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim to officially start his spell as head coach of the Red Devils on Monday (November 11).

The 39-year-old has been chosen as the latest man to try to attempt to turn United around, although the circumstances surrounding his appointment have been somewhat unusual.

Manchester United’s Amorim delay explained

Although it’s commonplace for managers to agree to take charge of a new club for the following season, mid-season delays are relatively rare once an agreement has been formally reached. Indeed, Amorim himself has revealed he asked United to allow him to remain in Lisbon until next summer during negotiations, a request that was denied.

The Premier League giants announced they had reached a deal to hire the Portuguese on November 1, three days after Sporting made it known they had been approached by United, who had indicated their willingness to pay his €10 million ($10.72 million) release clause.

The hope was that Amorim would take up his new role before the league fixture against Chelsea on November 3, but the Lisbon club dug their heels in, explaining they expected their coach to serve a 30-day notice period.

In the end, further talks resulted in United agreeing to pay Sporting an extra €1 million ($1.07 million) for them to release him after Sunday’s Portuguese league game away to Braga.

Who will Man United play against in Ruben Amorim’s first game?

Amorim will officially become Manchester United head coach on Monday, November 11, although his first game in charge won’t come until after the upcoming international break.

He will pick the team for the first time in the away game against Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Sunday, November 24, four days before the Red Devils host Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.

Trips to Arsenal (December 4) and Manchester City (December 15) are United’s most eye-catching fixtures before the end of 2024, while they will take on Liverpool at Anfield in their first Premier League fixture of 2025.