Manchester United has appointed Portuguese Ruben Amorim as their new head coach, succeeding Erik ten Hag, the club announced on Friday. They anticipate that Amorim, one of Europe’s most promising young managers, will restore the club to its former glories.
Starting November 11, Amorim will take up his duties at United, signing a contract through 2027 with an option for an additional year, after completing his responsibilities at Sporting—a club he notably revitalized during his tenure of over four years.
“Ruben is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football,” United said in a statement.
He has achieved significant success both as a player and a coach, including two Primeira Liga championships with Sporting CP, the first of which ended the club’s 19-year title drought.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will remain the interim manager until Amorim’s official start.
Amorim, known for his appealing style of high-pressure and possession-centric football, led Sporting to two Primeira Liga championships in 2021 and 2024 and currently has them at the top of the leaderboard this season.
Following a series of disappointing performances, United acted quickly to appoint Amorim after dismissing Dutch manager Ten Hag on October 28.
On Tuesday, Sporting confirmed that United agreed to pay Amorim’s 10 million euros ($10.86 million) release clause.
Currently 14th in the Premier League, United turned to former player and assistant coach Van Nistelrooy as interim manager, who secured a 5-2 victory over Leicester City in his initial League Cup match.
He will manage three more matches before Amorim takes over, including a critical league game against Chelsea at Old Trafford this Sunday.
Amorim, a former Portugal midfielder, becomes the sixth permanent manager at United since the legendary Alex Ferguson, who won an unmatched 13 league titles with the club.
The Portuguese manager is charged with the task of restoring United’s former glory in one of the most closely watched positions in world football.
Sought After
Several top clubs, including Liverpool, considered Amorim as a possible replacement for Juergen Klopp last season before opting for Arne Slot.
He was also in discussions with West Ham United about succeeding David Moyes but chose to stay in Lisbon.
Top European clubs like Barcelona, Juventus, and Bayern Munich had shown interest in Amorim during their recent managerial appointments.
Amorim was even seen as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, with Guardiola’s contract set to expire at the season’s end.
Amorim is celebrated as a savior at Sporting, taking over in March 2020 as their third manager of the season.
He had just guided Braga to a League Cup victory, achieving 10 wins in 13 games, including a historic away win against Benfica, where he spent nine years as a player.
Sporting secured his services for 10 million euros. Under his leadership, Sporting broke a 19-year league title drought in an incredible 2020-21 season, where they lost only once and also clinched the League Cup.
Last season, they lost only two league games and finished ten points clear of second-placed Benfica.
Amorim, who played as a central midfielder for 14 years, made 14 appearances for Portugal. He began his professional career with Belenenses in Portugal’s top division in 2003 before moving to Benfica in 2008.
He retired in 2017 at age 32 after battling knee injuries and had a loan spell at Qatari club Al-Wakrah. Soon after retiring, Amorim pursued management studies.
Having interned under Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford in 2018, he regards the Portuguese manager as a significant influence in his coaching career.
Amorim’s 3-4-3 tactical setup emphasizes high pressing and possession-based play. His relaxed approach has made him popular among the media.
He has earned admiration from United captain and fellow Portuguese Bruno Fernandes, who recently stated, “Since Mr. Amorim arrived at Sporting, it has been one of the teams to play the best football.”
“Sporting went 20 years without winning championships and Amorim arrived and has already won two, this shows that the work has been done well.”
