Ruben Amorim says Manchester United told him it was “now or never” after being handed a brief midway through the season to restore the Premier League giants to the pinnacle of English and European football.
The 39-year-old Sporting Lisbon coach quickly emerged as the favourite for the Old Trafford job after Erik ten Hag was sacked on Monday following a poor start to the season.
Amorim has signed a deal until 2027 and will join the club on 11 November, becoming the sixth permanent manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Speaking publicly for the first time since being offered one of the biggest jobs in world football, Amorim said it had been a whirlwind few days.
“The only question I asked was to go at the end of the season,” Amorim said on Friday after Sporting thrashed Estrela 5-1 in the Portuguese league.
“But I was told it was now or never. I had three days to make the decision. That’s what I did.
“If I rejected it now, in six months I would not have got it. I didn’t want to regret making this decision.”
Amorim said he had been approached by other clubs, one of which had offered him “three times” the amount he would earn at United.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will remain in temporary charge until Amorim arrives at Old Trafford.
United described Amorim as “one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football.”
The Portuguese coach will oversee Sporting’s remaining matches before the international break, with the win against Estrela marking the club’s 10th consecutive league victory this season.
Sporting host Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday, and Amorim’s final game is set to be against former club Braga in the league on 10 November.
He will take charge of United for the first time on 24 November, away at relegation-threatened Ipswich.
Sporting stated that United would pay the Portuguese club €11 million (£9.5 million) for Amorim’s departure.
Languishing
United sacked Ten Hag after a 2-1 defeat by West Ham left them in 14th place in the Premier League.
They have only three wins from nine league matches despite substantial financial investment.
The three-time European champions are currently 21st out of 36 teams in the revamped Europa League, with three draws from their matches this season.
Prior to Wednesday’s 5-2 victory against Leicester in the fourth round of the League Cup, United had won just one of their previous eight games in all competitions.
Ten Hag won the League Cup and FA Cup during his two full seasons at Old Trafford, but the club has not won the Premier League since 2013.
Ferguson won the Premier League title 13 times over his nearly 27-year tenure, but the 20-time English champions have not mounted a sustained title challenge since.
Former United striker Van Nistelrooy said on Thursday that he was “motivated” to help turn United’s season around and wants to stay at the club as he prepares the players for a high-profile match against Chelsea on Sunday.
Rising Star
Amorim, a former Portugal midfielder, began his managerial career with then-third-tier Casa Pia in 2018 before moving to Braga.
Sporting secured his services in 2020, and he led the club to its first league title in 19 years in his first full season, repeating the feat last season.
Considered one of the rising stars on the European coaching scene, he was linked with the Liverpool manager’s role once Jurgen Klopp announced his departure, but Dutch coach Arne Slot took the Anfield job instead.
Amorim held talks with West Ham this year before they appointed former Spain coach Julen Lopetegui to replace David Moyes.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand said Amorim has the “character and the charisma” that Ten Hag lacked.
Ten Hag, meanwhile, thanked United fans, saying, “My dream was to bring more trophies to the cabinet.”
“Unfortunately, that dream has come to an end,” he said in a statement.
“I wish all Manchester United fans nothing but success, trophies and glory.
“Your support and the warmth I received from everyone at the club helped me feel at home.”
AFP
