In a dramatic shake-up at Old Trafford, Manchester United has set its sights on Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim, following the ousting of Erik Ten Hag. The Dutchman’s departure came swiftly after a 1-2 loss to West Ham, which pushed Manchester United down to a dismal 14th place in the Premier League standings. The historic English club, known for its past glories, found itself in turmoil, sparking the quest for a fresh managerial vision.
Sporting Lisbon, where Amorim has been crafting his coaching career, confirmed the interest from Manchester United on Tuesday. The club’s willingness to engage at the highest levels of European football became evident when it announced to the Lisbon stock exchange that Manchester United is prepared to meet Amorim’s substantial 10-million-euro release clause. A spokesperson from Sporting Lisbon stated, “Manchester United have expressed their interest in recruiting coach Ruben Amorim and have said they are ready to pay the 10 million euro release clause.”
At just 39, Amorim has swiftly emerged as a potential rejuvenator for the struggling Red Devils. Despite heavy investments in player acquisitions over the summer transfer window, United’s performance has been disappointing, with victories eluding them in all but one of their last eight matches across competitions.
Amorim’s coaching prowess is highlighted by his achievements since taking the helm at Sporting Lisbon in March 2020. Under his guidance, the team clinched two Portuguese league titles. This kind of pedigree has kindled hopes among Manchester United supporters yearning for a return to former glories.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former United striker, has temporarily taken over managerial duties amidst the club’s critical period. However, Amorim remains the focal point for Manchester United’s long-term plans. Many see him as part of an elite group of young European coaches. His sophisticated football strategies and adaptability have gained recognition and respect across the continent.
Despite the swirling rumors and intense speculation, Amorim himself has remained coy and non-committal.
. When confronted by the media on the possibility of swapping Lisbon for Manchester, he remarked during a pre-match press conference for Sporting’s League Cup tie against Nacional, “I’m not going to talk about my future. I’m very proud to be the coach of Sporting Lisbon.”
The footballing community continues to watch developments with bated breath. Fabian Hurzeler, a young Brighton manager making waves in the Premier League, offered a fresh perspective on the saga. On being quizzed about Amorim, Hurzeler stated, “39 and he’s eight years older than me. He’s already achieved great things in Portugal. I’ve seen some games of his teams, and he plays incredible football. I’m not in a position to give him advice; if he needs advice, he can probably ask Pep (Guardiola) or Jurgen Klopp.”
It is noteworthy that Amorim’s prowess had previously attracted interest from Liverpool, following Jurgen Klopp’s decision to step down. However, Anfield opted for Dutch coach Arne Slot, leaving the Manchester United role as Amorim’s next possible adventure at a leading English club.
The dismissal of Erik Ten Hag was not a decision made lightly. Club co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, who stood by Ten Hag even after an internal review post the previous season, had hoped that the manager could navigate United to better fortunes following an eighth-place league finish. Despite his early promise, consistent underperformance and a toxic atmosphere around results demanded a drastic change.
As the Red Devils face this pivotal period, all eyes remain on Old Trafford to see whether Amorim can translate his continental successes into a revival for Manchester United. His potential arrival is seen not just as a coaching change, but possibly as a monumental shift towards sustained rejuvenation for one of the Premier League’s giants.
